Revealed: Government reaction to Man City scandal – sources
The government has no plans to rewrite the white paper on independent football regulation in response to the Premier League’s charges against Man City, sources have told Football Insider.
The policy proposal – the most significant shake-up to football governance in England in a generation – had been due for publication earlier this month but has now been pushed back to the end of February.
Many commentators have suggested that the Premier League waited until the eve of the publication date to announce the 115 charges against City in a bid to prove that it can self-regulate.
But Football Insider has been told by a senior source that the situation will have no impact on the substance of the white paper, which was leaked to the press in late January.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport believes that the Premier League’s intervention does not affect the reforms that are needed in football.
While City’s stance on an independent football regulator is not known specifically, there is widespread opposition to the proposed body across the Premier League.
Elite clubs privately insist that more corporate red tape and third-party interference would be disastrous for the Premier League.
The independent regulator will have the power to order a new financial distribution model within the English pyramid, monitor club finances in real time, and introduce a more effective owners’ and directors’ test.
A source told Football Insider last Saturday (11 February) that City’s claim to have proof that the press were briefed prior to the Premier League’s announcement are false.
City, who have already begun assembling an all-star legal team ahead of the case being heard by an independent commission that will decide their fate, insist that there is “irrefutable evidence” in support of their position.
The stakes could hardly be higher as the Premier League will almost certainly throw the book at the Abu Dhabi-financed club if they are found guilty of the dizzying litany of charges against them.
Litigation expert Dr Gregory Ioannidis has told this site that relegation – perhaps even to the basement of the Football League – as well as a transfer ban and unlimited cash fine are all genuine possibilities.
In other news, Gabby Agbonlahor tells Man City to agree Marc Cucurella deal as summer transfer mission revealed.