Stephanie Peacock, UK Minister of Sport, has apologised after her “op-ed” led to legal letters from the executives of three Premier League clubs.
In her Mail Online piece last month, Peacock criticised objections raised by West Ham’s Baroness Karen Brady, Arsenal’s Tim Lewis and Brighton’s Paul Barber about the introduction of an independent football regulator.
The sports minister later issued an apology via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s X profile, which stated: “I would like to make clear that it was never my intention for the op-ed to be perceived by anybody as impugning the integrity of Baroness Brady, Mr Barber and Mr Lewis and that whatever our differences on the right approach to football regulation, I do not doubt the sincerity and honesty of their opinions or their integrity.
“I am happy to make this clear and apologise to Baroness Brady, Mr Barber and Mr Lewis for any distress caused. I am glad to be able to clarify my intentions and now wish to see an end to this matter.”
The three Premier League club chiefs had discussed the potential negative impact of the proposed introduction of independent regulation on the league, particularly the effect it could have on the clubs’ academies.
In her column, Peacock argued that it was no surprise that a “loud minority” was attempting to “derail the debate, promote untruths and preserve the status quo”. She further stated that claims suggesting the cost of regulation would hinder a club’s academy development and long-term success were “simply wrong and offensive”.
It has been reported that the three executives will be responsible for covering their own legal costs, as the government has declined to do so.
The Bill in question
The Football Governance Bill was initially introduced by the previous Conservative government to create an independent football regulator to oversee the sport’s finances and ownership.
However, following the election, the Labour government proposed a revised version of the bill, aimed at better protecting the sport but also placing greater restrictions on Premier League club owners. This has led to pushback from the likes of Baroness Brady, Lewis and Barber.
The new bill removes the requirement for the regulator to consider the government’s foreign and trade policy when applying the owners’ and directors’ test, which would have allowed state-owned clubs to be held to a lower standard.
It also introduces a provision requiring fan consultation on club relocation, recognising the vital role clubs play in local communities. One of the most controversial aspects of the bill is the regulator’s power over parachute payments – financial support provided to clubs relegated from the Premier League to cushion the impact on finances of the drop.
As highlighted in a joint interview, Brady, Lewis and Barber argue that these new powers could harm the Premier League, suggesting that the regulations might deter investment, ultimately impacting clubs and academies.
The government, however, defends the bill, emphasising that it is designed to benefit the entire football pyramid, particularly as the financial gap between the Premier League and lower divisions continues to widen.
However, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been vocal against over regulation himself in other sectors. In a speech last year, he criticised regulators, referring to them as an “alliance of naysayers” that obstruct progress.
