Backlash over FA bid to sell off Wembley
THE Football Association was under mounting pressure last night to abandon plans to sell Wembley Stadium – the ‘crown jewel’ of the English game – to a US football tycoon.
Kate Hoey, the former sports minister who oversaw plans to rebuild Wembley, said it would no longer be England’s national stadium if the deal goes ahead.
She added that if it is sold, the new owners should reimburse the £161million put in by taxpayers and National Lottery entrants, and pay an extra premium to take into account the stadium’s increase in value. It also emerged last night that London Mayor Sadiq Khan has instructed lawyers and officials to see if the capital can get back the £21million it gave to the project.
Shahid Khan, the US owner of gridiron football team the Jacksonville Jaguars and Championship football club Fulham, is believed to have offered the English FA around £600million for the stadium and future hospitality rights from matches and concerts worth another £400million. But ex-England midfielder Peter Reid said: ‘There are some things this country should never sell, like the Crown Jewels – and Wembley is English football’s crown jewel.’
Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton said: ‘It might feel like a lot of money but we will be selling the heritage of our game. That’s why I’m against it.’
Miss Hoey, Labour’s sports minister between 1999 and 2001, said: ‘I think the stadium should stay owned by the governing body, the FA, because once sold, who knows what will happen ten years later if it is sold on again. It could be the thin end of the wedge.’
FA chairman Greg Clarke wrote to FA Council members asking them to ‘canvass’ views on any sale and insisted there was still to be a ‘debate’ on the issue.
Former Chelsea owner and FA executive Ken Bates, 86, called on the public to back a petition to force a Commons debate ‘because it is such an important issue’.
Former England boss Sam Allardyce insisted the sale made sense, but added that Wembley should continue to stage some important matches.