Stone says football European Super League plans are 'a nonsense' and driven by greed
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PLANS to set up a football European Super league are "a nonsense" and should be given a red card, according to north MP, Jamie Stone.
He hit out after the proposals - involving an elite league of 12 English, Italian and Spanish teams - were widely condemned. Opponents of the initiative, including fans, other clubs and the UK government say such a move would undermine the structure of the game and is being driven by greed.
Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Digital, Culture Media and Sport, has called for an independent regulator to be appointed to take on the billionaire club owners and "put power back in the hands of fans."
The Caithness, Sutherland and easter Ross MP wants broadcasters to reject the European Super League proposals by not televising the games.
BT Sport and DAZN have publicly denounced the proposals and distanced themselves from broadcasting the matches, he stated.
In letters sent to the head of sport at Sky, Amazon, and the BBC, Mr Stone emphasised the importance of football to local communities and the duty of broadcasters to protect "the very essence of football".
Following comments from the Secretary of State for Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden MP, that the Conservative Government will launch its fan-led review, Mr Stone has called on the Minister to meet with broadcasters and to devise a joint strategy to halt the realisation of the super league.
Mr Stone said: "For many years now, we have seen Premier League football evolve into a money-making machine that places greed above fans and the communities they represent. The Super League proposals are the most extreme example of oligarchs and tycoons robbing fans of the game we love.
"I suspect that if these plans go ahead, fans will boycott Super League games. The final vestige of engagement with these damaging proposals is therefore broadcast media. Broadcasters must choose between fans and monetary greed. I am confident that if the media, government, and most importantly football fans come together, we can stop this nonsense."
He added: "Mr Dowden’s commitment to launching a fan-led review has come about two years too late. The 2019 Conservative manifesto promised a fan-led review of football. Had the Tories kept their promise in good time, we could have avoided this calamity entirely.
"I want to see an independent regulator established with some real teeth - enough to take on the billionaire owners and put power back into the hands of fans."
The UK government has said it will take "whatever action necessary", including legislative options, to stop plans for a European Super League.
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, met with the FA, Premier League officials, and fans' representatives, and afterwards it was revealed that "no action is off the table."
The 12 founding members of the league - Manchester City, Manchester Utd, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan - faced a fierce backlash after unveiling proposals for a breakaway tournament.
