'These are dangerous times': Simon Jordan explains why a 'bloody stupid' independent regulator could harm football

The introduction of an independent football regulator could ruin the beautiful game.

That is the opinion of the talkSPORT presenter and former Crystal Palace president. Simon Jordanwho believes the new legislation will lead to “dangerous times.”

The UK government will announce the Football Governance Bill in Parliament, which will give the IFR powers to oversee clubs in England's top five tiers.

Conservative MP Tracey Crouch has led calls to appoint a regulator, something that emerged after the failed Separation from the European Super League.

Aiming to “protect the assets” of teams, the IFR will have a major influence on the financial distribution between the Premier League and the EFL.

This adds to “tougher tests” for new owners and directors, while also preventing clubs from joining any unauthorized competitions.

Giving his opinion on the matter, Jordan has argued that the historic new measures could be detrimental to football, rather than helping it.

He said: “Football needs to be careful what it does to itself, now we have a situation with the PGMOL who have implemented VAR, which is a good idea, in a bad way.

“It's been implemented incorrectly, which is harming the game, and then comes this financial regulation that will harm the game.

“If we're not careful, these are existential threats to the value of this game; these are dangerous times, but interesting.

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“And it's about how the big players in the game react to it, rather than the background noise that politicians are making.”

Jordan also commented: “It's almost like that TV show from the 1970s where Jesus of Nazareth was on a cross looking down and saying, 'Forgive them Lord, they don't know what they've done.'

“The idea that we need over-regulation of this game and governance that leads to a scenario where it starts to strangle the game is ridiculous.

“The real battle is about distributions, about more money being contributed to the pyramid.

“And the reason the independent regulator has value to me is because it can be used as an opportunity for Rick Parry (EFL chairman) and Trevor Birch (EFL chief executive) to make up for the sins of the imbeciles who came before them.

“(They) couldn't close the gap between what the Premier League was becoming and what they needed to get out of it, so the distribution battle is valid.

“The idea that a brilliant sport with a brilliant set of leagues that dominates world football, which in 1985 had nine matches broadcast on terrestrial television, had a £1.3 million broadcast deal, had empty stadiums and football violence outside scale, now has billions coming into play.

“It is the most powerful league in the world, with some of the best football teams, coaches and individuals playing in it; it has 320 matches that are broadcast live each season.

“It's got football stadiums like shiny new pins, but it's got some challenges, it's broken in some ways and it needs a bunch of regulators to come in and suck the life out of it, which is what they tend to do in dynamic industries, it's fucking stupid.

“But he's brought it on himself and disguised himself as a fanatical-led revolution, okay. Be careful what you wish for, because there's a distinct chance you'll get it.”

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He continued: “Let me be clear, no one in football wants a regulator, but what they (Parry and Birch) want is to use it as leverage to get the Premier League to the table to distribute more revenue because they don't want to.

“And you wouldn't do it either if you were in the Premier League!”

Jordan then stated: “I absolutely agree that there needs to be more governance and better structures, it makes me cringe on behalf of the FA – they are sitting on the sidelines applauding this like idiots.”

“They were supposed to be the de facto regulator of gambling, and they said, 'Let's all get an independent regulator,' what are you doing then?

“Because you won't have a fight with the Premier League because you want internationals and you want the players to be available and you want the FA Cup to go along with the Premier League. That's how poor you are.”