England: future "football regulator" sparks debate, UEFA worries, Keir Starmer reassures

"I don't think there's any problem with the rules, because this is a truly independent regulator. We're talking to UEFA. I'm confident that our rules are perfectly consistent,," said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Labour Party, centre-left) during a visit to Rome (ITA) on 16/09/2024.

The head of the British government was trying to reassure UEFA, which was concerned about possible political interference in the management of English football.

The root of the affair was the Football Governance Bill introduced into Parliament on 18/03/2024 by Rishi Sunak's Conservative government, then suspended because of the early general election on 04/07/2024.

Following Labour's victory in the election and Keir Starmer's appointment to 10 Downing Street, the Bill reappeared in the King Charles III Speech (drafted by the Government) on 17/07/2024.

This bill, which affects the top five divisions of English football (Premier League, EFL Championship, League One, League Two and National League), aims to ensure better fan representation within clubs and promote their financial sustainability.

It…