The Labour Party has today asked the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate whether plans for a so-called ‘European Super League’ would fall foul of laws to uphold fairness.

Labour’s Shadow Minister for Sport, Alison McGovern MP, says that the proposal from six Premier League clubs would not offer fair competition and would have an “enormous” impact on fans.

She also asks the CMA to help Parliament improve representation for fans and supporters in football by “advising what reforms to the legislation governing this market might improve the responsiveness of the sport to supporter’s interests.”

Labour is urging football supporters to join in the calls to block the breakaway league by asking the CMA to intervene and telling the Government to put down legislation that would ensure it could not go ahead. Labour has pledged votes to support any legislation that intervenes.

Commenting, Alison McGovern MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Sport, said:

“Proposals for a breakaway league are nothing short of an attempt to stitch up competition for a few elite clubs at the top. That’s why Labour has today asked the CMA to investigate them.

 

“We urge supporters across the country to add their names to this letter and show the groundswell of feeling against these damaging proposals, that would do immense damage to football and communities across the country.

 

“This must now be a watershed moment. We cannot simply go back to the status quo in which smaller clubs struggle to stay afloat and fans are excluded from decisions. The Government must get on with its fan-led review and ensure that football is given back to the people who built it.”

 

Labour’s petition can be found here: https://action.labour.org.uk/page/80869/petition/1

Full text of Labour’s letter to the CMA:

Dear  Andrea Coscelli

Proposal by UK football clubs to form European Super League 

I am writing to ask if the Competition and Markets Authority would review the plans for a new European “Super League” by various football clubs, in particular those clubs which are based in the UK.

The plans amount to a massive reduction in the current level of competition for UK and European football clubs. For a small number of founding clubs, entry to the top tier of European football will be guaranteed, removing the need to prove that they have one of the best teams. Other clubs will have their ability to qualify and compete in the league severely restricted.

No football supporter believes that this new European Super League will allow for fair sporting or financial competition between clubs and the impact on fans will be enormous. I should therefore be grateful if you would confirm:

1. Whether you plan to investigate these proposals and consider the impact they will have on football supporters
2. Whether you will commission a study to identify how the new league will impact on competition in this market
3. Whether you are willing to assist Parliament in drafting legislation that will make football more accountable to its supporters

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Jo Stevens MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Alison McGovern MP

Shadow Minister for Sport