UEFA
United, City, Liverpool, Arsenal... Premier League clubs at risk of UEFA exclusion
As well as concerns over Champions League participation, the UEFA message puts England’s European Championship role in doubt.
UEFA has warned the English authorities that the UK and Ireland’s bid to host Euro 2028 could be at risk if the UK government proceeds with its plan to create an independent regulator to oversee football. This would be seen as government interference, which goes against UEFA’s statutes.
How UEFA rule could impact English teams
The proposed bill, reintroduced in July, aims to establish a body to oversee the top five levels of men’s football in England, with the government stating that the regulator would “protect clubs by ensuring their financial sustainability.”
However, in a letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, UEFA’s General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis expressed concerns. He emphasized that “football regulation should be managed by the national federation” and that one of UEFA’s core requirements is “no government interference in football management.” The letter warns that the maximum sanction for such interference could be the exclusion of the Football Association (FA) and its teams from UEFA competitions. Not everyone is taking it seriously though.
Such an exclusion would not only jeopardize England’s ability to host Euro 2028 but could also prevent English clubs and national teams from competing in European competitions. This situation echoes concerns in Spain, where the government’s independent commission overseeing transparency in RFEF elections could have significant consequences.