Gareth Southgate thinks an independent football regulator is ‘another VAR waiting to happen’… with the England boss ‘dubious’ it can solve issues and instead could cause more confusion

• The UK Government announced plans for a regulator to ensure financial compliance across the game 
• England boss Gareth Southgate is sceptical that it will be able to sort problems 
• Why we should get excited about Cole Palmer – Listen here to It’s All Coming Up 

Gareth Southgate fears an independent football regulator will only add to confusion – just like VAR.

The Government announced plans for a regulator to ensure financial compliance in the game in last week’s King’s Speech.

But Southgate is sceptical it will improve governance and instead might add another unwanted layer of complication.

‘It would worry me that we’re trying to find simple solutions to very complex problems.’ said the England manager. 

‘I’m dubious that we can solve all the issues. For me, it’s another VAR waiting to happen.

Gareth Southgate addressed the proposal for an independent football regulator this week

England boss thinks an independent regulator could add another layer of confusion, like VAR

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‘I know as an organisation The FA have supported the idea of some sort of financial controls but I’m not sure what is expected of the position (regulator) and who is this person and what their experiences are.’

An independent regulator was first mooted in 2021 after Bury went out of business and other clubs including Derby and Wigan were close to joining them.

There have also been ownership issues in the Premier League with Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich selling the club after being sanctioned by the Government and opposition to the Saudi takeover at Newcastle.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s proposed Football Governance Bill wants an independent regulator to ‘have powers to monitor and enforce compliance with requirements in financial regulation, corporate governance; club ownership (owners’ and directors’ tests); fan engagement and club heritage protection; and approved competitions’.

Southgate pinpoints the issue of ownership as particularly thorny.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants an independent regulator to ‘have powers to monitor and enforce compliance with requirements in financial regulation’ as part of a proposed new bill

Sky Sports’ Gary Neville has been one of the most vocal in calling for an independent regulator

‘If we interviewed every owner in the league, would we have come to the right conclusion as to whether they were going to be good or bad at that moment in time,’ he argued. ‘I’d say No, and who actually decides when they are good or bad.’

‘I was at Aston Villa for years, everybody used to hammer (chairman) Doug Ellis because he didn’t spend enough and yet he left a club that had a great training ground, great developed ground, financially stable, always in the top six, won a couple of trophies.

‘Was he a good owner or a bad owner? Different people will have a different view.

‘If I’m honest I don’t really know what the remit is (of the regulator). That’s the bit I haven’t read or haven’t seen or maybe isn’t there.’

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

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