Premier League considers independent regulator

PREMIER LEAGUE chief Richard Masters has insisted his organisation would be open to the concept of an independent regulator but has described some recommendations from the fan-led review of football governance as “too radical”.

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.

Some of the other eyecatching recommendations from the panel, led by chair Tracey Crouch, was to provide additional support for the football pyramid via a “solidarity transfer levy” 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.

“We are open to an independent regulator and we want to discuss the detail of that with Government going forward,” Masters told BBC Sport, although the league’s boss does believe his own organisation “can be effective regulators”.

“It’s a key part of Tracey’s 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.

“But, as I said, there’s a whole package of things. It’s what the regulator is able to do and the power at its disposal that we need to talk about.”

A panel contributed towards the review after hearing over 100 hours of evidence and there were contributions from supporters of 130 clubs.

“We liaised constantly with the panel, we tried to show that football authorities can work together, and I believe we can be effective regulators,” Masters added.