New football regulator announced to vet prospective owners and prevent breakaway competitions
The government has announced its plan for an Independent Football Regulator (IFR) for the professional men’s game.
The IFR came about following a review by Tory MP Tracey Crouch, which itself was launched after the attempt by clubs to form the European Super League.
But the Premier League has responded by saying they “remain concerned” about the legislation, which they claim could unintentionally “weaken the competitiveness and appeal of English football“.
Among the measures contained in the IFR – which will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny – are:
• New “stronger tests” for new owners and directors to “stop clubs falling into the wrong hands”. They face being blocked and even struck off from future attempts;
• “Backstop powers” to sort out the financial distribution between the Premier League and English Football League, if they cannot come to an agreement themselves;
• All clubs from National League One to the Premier League will be need to be licensed to compete in competitions, following “a number of issues in recent years including financial mismanagement, breakaway plans for the European Super League, and changes to club names, badges and colours against the wishes of fans”;
• New requirements to protect from “breakaway competitions” and “stadium relocations”;
• An obligation to consult fans on “key off-field decisions” will also be a requirement of the licence. This could include decisions on cub heritage and strategic direction.
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As well as statutory regulation of football clubs, the government has also announced that the IFR will produce a periodical report, called “State of the Game”, which will analyse the financial state of football.
The government says the IFR will not be “overly-interventionist”, and will instead take an “advocacy first” approach – although these will be backed by a “broad suite of powers to investigate suspected non-compliance, compel information, and enforce if necessary”.
It is also pledged that the bill will have “no input in on-field decisions and will act in a way that minimises any impact on sporting competitions”.
A “shadow regulator” will be set up to run while the IFR is created, with a location, chair and board make-up all still up in the air.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Football has long been one of our greatest sources of national pride. Up and down the country, it brings people together in celebration or commiseration.
“But for too long some clubs have been abused by unscrupulous owners who get away with financial mismanagement, which at worst can lead to complete collapse – as we saw in the upsetting cases of Bury and Macclesfield Town.
“This bill is a historic moment for football fans – it will make sure their voices are front and centre, prevent a breakaway league, protect the financial sustainability of clubs, and protect the heritage of our clubs big and small.”
Ms Crouch said that “football fans can begin to breathe a sigh of relief in the knowledge that the next steps towards protecting the long term sustainability of the pyramid have now been taken”.
In response to the announcement, a spokesperson for the Premier League said it would study the bill once it is published.
“We agree it is vital that football clubs are sustainable, remain at the heart of their communities and that fans are fundamental to the game,” it added.
“The government has consistently stated that it wishes to support the Premier League’s continued global success which generates funding to help sustain the entire football pyramid.
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“With our clubs, we have advocated for a proportionate regime that enables us to build on our position as the most widely watched league in the world.
“Mindful that the future growth of the Premier League is not guaranteed, we remain concerned about any unintended consequences of legislation that could weaken the competitiveness and appeal of English football.”
UK
King Charles and Prince Harry’s ‘diary’ clash revealed – as William chosen to lead brother’s old regiment
The King and Prince Harry won’t meet up on Wednesday during the Duke of Sussex’s trip to the UK due to a timetable clash between a royal garden party and an Invictus Games event.
Harry is in London this week, celebrating 10 years of the Invictus Games.
Since his trip from California was announced, there was press speculation over whether he would spend time with his father amid ongoing tensions between the self-exiled prince and the rest of the Royal Family.
However, a spokesperson for the duke said on Tuesday there would be no meeting because the King was too busy.
This comes about because of a diary clash between the two.
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Sky News camera captures Prince Harry back in UK
At 4pm on Wednesday, the King is understood to be hosting a garden party at Buckingham Palace, in which guests can enjoy the grounds in some of the warmest weather of the year so far.
Meanwhile, around an hour later, Prince Harry is taking part in an event held at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
A spokesperson for the duke previously said: “In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme.
“The duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”
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The Duke of Sussex marks Invictus Games
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It comes as the King is set to make Prince William Colonel-in-Chief of Harry’s old regiment, the Army Air Corps.
The role was previously held by the King for 31 years during his time as Prince of Wales, and will be handed down on Monday 13 May.
Harry was attached to the regiment for his second tour of Afghanistan between September 2012 and January 2013, working as an Apache pilot.
He spent three-and-a-half years with the Army Air Corps, in training and in service. William flew helicopters with the Royal Air Force.
The King only returned to public duties last week for the first time since his cancer diagnosis.
Buckingham Palace has said the King’s diary will be carefully managed to avoid any unnecessary risks to his health.
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The palace also said it wouldn’t comment on matters relating to Harry.
Yesterday, a Sky News camera captured Prince Harry arriving at the Honourable Artillery Company’s headquarters on the edge of the City of London for a one-day summit, called the Invictus Games Foundation Conversation.
Following his visit to Britain, Harry will be joined by his wife Meghan for a trip to Nigeria.
Children taking part in a “life-transforming” clinical trial have been enjoying foods which would have previously triggered severe allergic reactions, doctors have said.
Some of the results have been described as “nothing less than a miracle” and could mean children with milk and peanut allergies could eat larger varieties of food as there will be less concern over accidental exposure.
Five NHS hospitals have so far joined the £2.5m trial, thanks to funding from the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation.
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died in 2016 after suffering a severe allergic reaction to sesame baked into a Pret baguette.
Her parents, Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, campaigned for a change in food laws and set up the foundation with the hope of curing allergies through research.
The new clinical oral immunotherapy trial uses everyday items and is giving patients small doses of food they find allergic to build up their tolerance levels.
Sibel Sonmez-Ajtai, paediatric allergy consultant and principal investigator at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This treatment is not a cure for a food allergy, but what it achieves is life-transforming.
“To have a patient who has had anaphylaxis to 4mls of milk to then tolerate 90mls within six to eight months is nothing less than a miracle.”
Patient can eat six peanuts a day
Thomas Farmer, 11, who was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy when he was one, can now eat six peanuts a day after joining the trial in Southampton.
His mother Lauren said: “At first, it was very scary for both Thomas and us when he did the food challenge, as we weren’t sure what to expect.
“Knowing that Thomas can now tolerate six peanuts a day has taken away so much anxiety around food.
“It will also hopefully mean that he will be able to eat a wider variety of food as we won’t be so concerned about accidental exposure.
“For Thomas to be able to achieve all this with no medicine, just off-the-shelf foods, is amazing.”
Grace Fisher is enjoying positive results from the treatment for her milk allergy. Pic: PA
Since joining the trial in Newcastle, five-year-old Grace Fisher, who has a milk allergy, is now drinking 120ml milk a day and will soon be able to eat pizza with her friends.
Her mother Emma said: “She is currently on 120ml of milk and loves her daily hot chocolates.”
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To date, 139 people aged from two to 23 with allergies to peanuts or cow’s milk have started treatment.
The trial is being run at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
UK
Auriol Grey: Woman who caused cyclist to fall into path of car has manslaughter conviction overturned
A woman who shouted and waved aggressively at a cyclist on the pavement, causing her to fall into the path of a car, has had her conviction for manslaughter overturned.
CCTV showed Auriol Grey shout “get off the f****** pavement” as Celia Ward approached her in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, in October 2020.
The 77-year-old then veered off the 2.4 metre-wide path into the road.
Auriol Grey. Pic: PA
Mrs Ward, a grandmother, died after she was struck by a car.
Grey, who has cerebral palsy and was described by her lawyer as “partially blind”, was given a three-year jail sentence in March 2023 after being convicted of manslaughter at a retrial.
The Court of Appeal ruled today that the manslaughter conviction should be overturned.
Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting with Mrs Justice Yip and Mrs Justice Farbey, said: “In our judgment, the prosecution case was insufficient event to be left to the jury.”
She added: “In all the circumstances, we have no hesitation in concluding that the appellant’s conviction for manslaughter is unsafe.”
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