Plans introduced in July propose the creation of a new body to oversee the top five tiers of men's football in England, with the goal of "protecting clubs" and

"ensuring their financial sustainability."

According to a BBC report, UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis expressed concerns to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, stating: "We still have reservations... as typically, football regulation should be handled by the national federation."

A key concern for UEFA stems from one of its core principles: preventing government interference in football governance. Theodoridis emphasized, "We have specific rules to ensure the autonomy of sport and fairness of competition; violating these could result in a federation being excluded from UEFA competitions."

The proposal, which includes appointing a football regulator, follows issues like club mismanagement and the failed attempt to establish a European Super League. The regulator would introduce a licensing system aimed at ensuring English clubs are run sustainably while giving fans more influence in decision-making.

However, Theodoridis warned Nandy of potential "scope creep" within the independent football regulator (IFR), noting that while its original purpose is to safeguard financial sustainability, there is a risk it could extend its reach beyond that.

He stressed that such overreach "could undermine established structures and processes" and be seen as government interference. Theodoridis urged the Culture Secretary to preserve the Football Association's independence, stating that any compromise to the FA’s role as the main football regulator in England would conflict with UEFA and FIFA regulations.

He concluded by reiterating that the IFR's scope must remain strictly focused on long-term financial stability to avoid any perception of external interference in football governance. Photo by Florian Pépellin, Wikimedia commons.