{"id":24119,"date":"2021-11-26T15:01:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-26T20:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24119"},"modified":"2021-11-27T09:06:48","modified_gmt":"2021-11-27T14:06:48","slug":"premier-league-chief-welcomes-idea-of-independent-regulator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24119","title":{"rendered":"Premier League Chief Welcomes Idea Of Independent Regulator"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Masters also described some the recommendations in the fan-led review as \u2018too radical\u2019 (PA Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Premier League chief Richard Masters has insisted his organization would be open to an independent regulator but has described some recommendations from the fan-led review of football governance as \u201ctoo radical.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A wide-ranging review was published on Wednesday and one of its 47 recommendations called for the creation of an Independent Regulator for English Football (IREF), which has been endorsed in principle by the Government, who commissioned the inquiry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some other eye-catching recommendations from the panel, led by chair Tracey Crouch, was to provide additional support for the football pyramid via a \u201csolidarity transfer levy\u201d on deals between Premier League clubs or signings from overseas and while the report did not recommend the percentage, a 10 per cent levy was used as an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are open to an independent regulator, and we want to discuss the detail of that with Government going forward,\u201d Masters told BBC Sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a key part of Tracey\u2019s recommendation. Government has backed it. I think to push back on the concept of an independent regulator at this moment in time would be wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut, as I said, there\u2019s a whole package of things. It\u2019s what the regulator is able to do and the power at its disposal that we need to talk about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A panel contributed towards the review after hearing over 100 hours of evidence and there were contributions from supporters of 130 clubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of calling for an IREF, which would be created via an Act of Parliament to ensure the financial sustainability of the men\u2019s professional game, the proposed transfer levy was another of the 47 recommendations to provoke debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow insisted there was a danger you risked \u201ckilling the golden goose if we overregulate a highly successful financial and commercial operation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Masters added: \u201cWell, I think that\u2019s what we need to be careful of, the unintended consequences. I mean look across the 47 recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is seismic change to the way that football is going to be governed and one of the things that we need to preserve are some of the good things that Tracey highlights at the start of her review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe recognizes the great successes and the great strengths of English football \u2013 the world-leading football league at the top of the pyramid and the second-best football league in the world and a really deep and vibrant football pyramid. That\u2019s driven by external investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Premier League is a proud and significant contributor to the rest of football. We give away 15 per cent of our revenue already. Over the next three years we\u2019ve committed to government that we\u2019ll invest over \u00a31.6 billion into the football pyramid, into community and good causes. That\u2019s a huge investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the ideas is a levy on transfer fees. It\u2019s a radical idea. In reality, it is radical because there is a levy already. You\u2019ve got four per cent on domestic transfers, a levy on top of transfer prices, and that money goes to player welfare, youth development costs across the pyramid and a five per cent levy on internationals.\u00a0So, 10 per cent of that would be too radical.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The English Football League welcomed the fan-led review and chair Rick Parry hoped it would help provide the \u201cfundamental financial reset\u201d needed to safeguard the future of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parry had previously urged the Government and Crouch to end parachute payments and instead ensure the EFL receives 25 per cent of pooled media revenue generated by the Premier League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Masters insisted: \u201cI think that would be a disaster. Essentially, at some point some of the value has to be retained where the value has been generated. Otherwise, that value can\u2019t be generated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPremier League clubs need to be able to attract the best players, the best talent and the best managers, and put it on the pitch, week in, week out, to compete with each other and create that incredible competitiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGiving away too much money will deter the very thing that is unique to English football, which is that competitiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf it is about balance, then that\u2019s fine because you have to ask both sides of the question. What would happen to the EFL in those circumstances? But also what would happen to the Premier League? And not enough attention is given to the second part of the argument.\u201d<\/p>\n

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