Gary Neville says that first division has fallen “to a new level” by publishing an advertisement in an email to political experts to warn against the “unintended consequences” of an independent football regulator.
In a text ad posted on Politico's London playbook On Monday morning, the Premier League repeated its argument that lawmakers should be careful not to damage the success and popularity of English football by imposing external regulations.
The text, described as a “message from the Premier League”, read: “The Premier League is the most watched competition in the world, the Championship is the sixth richest league in Europe and we have the busiest and deepest pyramid in world football.” . However, the UK will soon become the first major country to regulate football. “We must protect ourselves from unintended consequences that would put the success of English football at risk.” The text was followed by a link to a website showing “how the Premier League helps communities and the game in general”.
Neville posted a screenshot of the advert on his Instagram account, adding the caption: “The Premier League is sinking to a new low by running paid ads attacking football's new regulator! How to be ashamed and look small!
The Sky pundit and former Manchester United defender has long been a public advocate for an independent regulator. He is also part-owner and former chief executive of League Two club Salford City, which has been making millions of pounds in losses each season and is looking for new investment.
The government has demanded the Premier League increase the amount of money it shares with the EFL, but lower league clubs are waiting for the Premier League to confront the issue of financial redistribution across the football pyramid. The Premier League stopped making an enhanced bid in February, a move believed to have led to the government introducing its football governance bill, and an independent regulator is expected to be set up before the general election. In its proposed form, the regulator would have the power to impose a financial settlement on the Premier League.
after newsletter promotion
The argument that regulation could kill the “golden goose” of English soccer's top flight has been used by the Premier League and its club executives during three years of debate over a regulator. The league says this is not the first time it has published such an ad on Politico, aiming to make its case to parliamentarians who do not follow football closely but will vote on the bill.
