Football regulator: West Ham’s Karren Brady issues warning over plans
West Ham United vice-chairman Karen Brady has warned that the government’s proposed new football regulatory body will create a “closed shop” of top teams.
The Football Governance Bill, which would lead to the establishment of a regulatory body, was debated in the House of Lords on Wednesday.
Baroness Brady, who has held senior roles at the club for 30 years, told peers there were “dangers lurking in this bill”.
“Some aspects of this legislation threaten to stifle what is so unique about English football, which is the desire for clubs to rise up and succeed within our pyramid system. That ambition means fans can dream,” she said.
The government wants the regulator to “increase clubs’ financial resilience, crack down on rogue owners and directors, and enhance fan engagement”.
The bill was introduced after similar measures were taken by the previous government which did not have time to enact the law before the general election.
But Tory peer Brady said the planned “extreme redistribution” would “replace our glorious but brutal meritocracy and risk closing shop, putting the ceiling on survival rather than aspiration”.
Supporters’ groups and the EFL have welcomed the bill, although the Premier League insists an independent regulator is not needed.
