The UK government on Thursday backed “radical reform” of English football under a new independent regulator that would shake up the governance and financial oversight of the game.
Following a review of the sport published on Wednesday, Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary, pledged to work “at pace” to introduce a new regulator that would supersede the authority of existing bodies such as the Football Association, the national governing body, and the Premier League, the top tier of English club football.
Powerful figures within the game — including a campaign group led by David Bernstein, former FA chair, and Gary Neville, the pundit and ex-Manchester United player — have backed the plans but one Premier League club chief executive poured scorn on a recommendation to redistribute further funds to lower leagues.