Government will ‘do whatever it can’ to stop breakaway
THE Government has said it will do “whatever it takes” to prevent the controversial breakaway European Super League.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said that they were working with the game’s authorities to ensure that the plans could not go ahead as suggested.
The warning came as the Duke of Cambridge signalled his dismay at the proposed breakaway, saying he shared the concerns of fans about “the damage it risks causing to the game we love”.
William, who is the current president of the Football Association, tweeted: “Now, more than ever, we must protect the entire football community – from the top level to the grassroots – and the values of competition and fairness at its core.”
In his Commons statement, Mr Dowden said that if the sport was unable to act, then ministers were prepared to step in to protect the national game.
“Be in no doubt, if they can’t act, we will. We will put everything on the table to prevent this from happening,” he said.
“We are examining every option from governance to competition law to mechanisms that allow football to take place.
“We will be reviewing everything Government does to support these clubs to play. We will do whatever it takes to protect our national game.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the breakaway plans were not “good news for fans” or for UK football.
“I don’t like the look of these proposals,” he told reporters on a campaign visit to Gloucestershire.
“We are going to look at everything that we can do with the football authorities to make sure that this doesn’t go ahead in the way that it’s currently being proposed.”
In his statement Mr Dowden said the Government was now bringing forward its promised fan-led review of football, to be chaired by former sports minister Tracey Crouch.
There was condemnation of the proposals from across the political spectrum.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it “cuts across all the things that make football great”.
Sir Keir, an Arsenal supporter, said: “It diminishes competition. It pulls up the drawbridge. It is designed for and by a small elite. But worst of all, it ignores the fans.”