PM Boris Johnson and Ministers drew-up a ‘legislative bomb’ to stop the European Super League’s potential earnings from broadcast rights in Britain.
That included forcing the now scuppered project’s matches to be shown on free-to-air television.
The proposal was being prepared by the Prime Minister and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden after the rebel Big Six clubs announced they were joining the breakaway league.
Sunday’s announcement instantly drew fierce criticism and protests, leading to Man City and United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal all having to make an embarrassing U-turn within 48 hours.
But the Daily Mail claims Johnson and his fellow MPS had ‘an explosive policy package under consideration’ that ‘included the use of competition law and tax rules to block the power grab’ by the six clubs, should they have pushed forward with plans.
It is reported that politicians and civil servants were at work from the moment FA chief executive Mark Bullingham tipped them off about the impending announcement on Sunday.
All other party leaders were just as outraged at the plans, which would have created a clear path for Parliament to make changes to the law.
Johnson and Dowden met with football chiefs and supporters groups on Tuesday with the PM promising they would consider ‘a legislative bomb’ to stop English clubs joining the breakaway.
Now, despite the sides’ dramatic climbdown, ministers remain ready to push on with a long-awaited review of how the national game is run.
Johnson revealed yesterday in Prime Minister’s Questions that former sports minister Tracey Crouch is being tasked with leading a ‘root-and-branch investigation into the governance of football and into what we can do to promote the role of fans in that governance.’
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MORE ON SUPER LEAGUE OUTRAGE
Meanwhile, Dowden revealed the government’s interest in fans holding the majority of voting rights at a club like in German football.
Under DFL rules, teams are not allowed to compete if private investors hold more than a 49 per cent stake in a club.
Dowden said: “Naturally we’ve got to learn the lessons from the crisis in football financing during the Covid crisis. We need to put this on a more sustainable footing.
“For example, in the German leagues they have a different governance structure so it’s right we look at those things.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
