Right to give ill-conceived idea a red card
WHAT many of you may not know is that I am a huge sports fan. When I am not working, as often as not, my TV can be found tuned into one of the sports channels.
Although I like all sports my favourites are definitely rugby and football. My husband Bob and I, together with our daughter Harriet, have always been huge supporters of Leicester Tigers and we loved to go and watch Burton Albion play.
One of the Government Departments is Culture, Media and Sport and I was lucky enough to have a spell as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) there. Now, as a backbencher, I am on the Select Committee for Culture, Media and Sport and we are able to question those involved at every level about the issues affecting them.
Last week’s announcement of the establishment of the proposed football European Super League was met with nationwide condemnation from everyone involved in the sport. Never has a subject united people from so many walks of life: Prince William, the Prime Minister, managers and players, even from the six clubs who were joining the new league, pundits and fans.
To a man, woman and child they all agreed this new league would destroy the game we love. The new league would be a closed shop where it would not matter if you won or lost, your place was secured. It was also felt that grassroots football would suffer as there would be less money to go around.
Under the present system teams in the Premier League work tirelessly to try to secure that all-important place in Europe, that would no longer be on offer.
Imagine how Leicester City would have felt when they won the Premier League if there was no place in the Champions League.
Fans of the six English clubs involved who wanted to watch their teams’ away matches would find themselves out of pocket as many of those matches would be abroad.
We have to wonder how the clubs involved were chosen.
Many of them both here in England and in Europe have not won a trophy for many years and this has led to the accusation that it is the wealthiest clubs who were invited to join the new league.
At some stage, I feel sure all of those involved in this failed enterprise will be summoned to appear before the Select Committee and we will get an opportunity to ask the awkward questions and get answers.
What stopped this ill-conceived plan was people power, when the usually silent majority decided their voice must be heard. That voice was so loud the owners of the clubs suddenly realised that without their fans their income stream would be seriously curtailed.
For me, I am just pleased I will still be able to enjoy football in the way I always have, and I am sure you all feel that way too.