Parliament urged to examine sports money laundering clause in football bill | Football
The UK parliament has been urged to repeal a clause in the new football governance bill that could leave the door out open to sports laundering by authoritarian states.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has drawn attention to a section of the bill that it says may point the way to a harmful increase in state ownership under certain conditions. The bill, currently being debated in the House of Commons, will define the powers of a long-promised independent regulator for English football, but there are concerns the new body will be unable to step in if the government allows May new unpleasant owners be approved.
While the Bill proposes new criteria for disqualifying potential owners, Article 37(2) stipulates that the regulator must take into account the government's “foreign and commercial policy objectives” when assessing their suitability. HRW believes that has the potential to seriously dilute the regulator's ability to prevent states from increasing their control over sport.
“A regressive clause in the bill will undermine the regulator's independence,” writes Robbie Newton, senior coordinator at HRW, in an article published Monday. “Section 37(2) requires the regulator to consider the UK government's 'foreign and trade policy objectives' when assessing potential owners, which could hamper the regulator's ability to prevent allied state actors from acquiring clubs. soccer.
“Clearly, given the UK's commercial interests in the region, countries such as Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates seeking to acquire equipment could trigger the application of Section 37(2).”
State ownership has become a particularly pressing issue since the acquisition of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia's public investment fund in 2021. The deal was finalized after passing the test of Premier League owners and directors, who were satisfied with “legally binding guarantees” that the Saudi state would have no control over the club . Since 2008, Manchester City has been owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group, led by Emirati King Sheikh Mansour, which is formally separate from the UAE state. The owners of both clubs have been accused of using football to retouch human rights abuses and other crimes in the states to which they are connected.
“Sportswashing is increasing throughout global sport,” Newton continues. “Authoritarian states are increasingly looking to sport and sports infrastructure as potential public relations vehicles to launder their reputations and exert geopolitical influence. The acquisition of football clubs has proven to be a particularly effective sports-washing tactic as they have considerable cultural importance and lobbying power.” HRW claims that under the bill's new rules on “serious criminal conduct” linked to owners' wealth, the takeovers of Newcastle and Manchester City would have been blocked.
The bill was introduced in March and is currently at committee stage, meaning amendments can be proposed and potentially passed, such as any changes to article 37(2).
