Gary Neville says the Premier League has stooped “to a new low” by taking out an advertisement in an email for political insiders to warn against the “unintended consequences” of an independent football regulator.
In a text advert published in Politico’s London Playbook on Monday morning, the Premier League repeated its argument that legislators should be wary of harming the success and popularity of English football by imposing external regulation.
The text, described as a “message from the Premier League” read: “The Premier League is the world’s most-watched competition, the Championship is Europe’s sixth wealthiest league and we have the best-attended and deepest pyramid in world football. Yet the UK will soon become the first major country to regulate football. We must guard against unintended consequences that would put English football’s success at risk.” The text was followed by a link to a web page showing “how the Premier League helps communities and wider game”.
Neville posted a screengrab of the advert on his Instagram account, adding the caption: “The Premier League stooping to a new low putting paid ads out attacking the New Regulator for football! How to embarrass yourselves and look small!”
The Sky pundit and former Manchester United defender has long been a public advocate for an independent regulator. He is also the part-owner and former CEO of the League Two side Salford City, who have been running losses of millions of pounds each season and are looking for new investment.
The government has demanded the Premier League increase the amount of money it shares with the EFL, but lower-league clubs are waiting for the Premier League to confront the issue of financial redistribution throughout the football pyramid. The Premier League walked away from making an improved offer in February, an act which is believed to have led the government to bring forward its football governance bill, with an independent regulator expected to be established before the general election. In its proposed form, the regulator would have the power to impose a financial settlement on the Premier League.
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The argument that regulation could kill the “golden goose” of English football’s top flight has been used by the Premier League and its club executives throughout the three years of debate over a regulator. The league says this is not the first time it has taken out such an advert in Politico, with the aim of making its case to MPs who do not follow football closely but will vote on the bill.