Sun Sep 15 11:23:23 UTC 2024: ## UEFA Threatens to Ban England from Euro 2028 Over Proposed Football Regulator
**LONDON** – UEFA, the governing body for European football, has issued a stark warning to the UK government, threatening to ban England from the Euro 2028 tournament if plans for an independent football regulator proceed.
In a letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis expressed concerns that the proposed regulator, part of the Football Governance Bill, would lead to “government interference” in the sport. He emphasized that “there should be no government interference in the running of football,” highlighting the importance of football’s autonomy and fair competition.
Theodoridis cautioned against granting the regulator broad powers over clubs in England’s top five leagues, stating that such a move could result in the English Football Association being excluded from UEFA and its teams from UEFA competitions.
The proposed regulator, championed by both the previous Conservative government and the current Labour administration, aims to address issues such as financial distribution, club ownership, and fan engagement.
However, UEFA maintains that football regulation should be managed by national federations, highlighting potential conflicts with its regulations and the potential for unfair competitive advantages.
The threat of England’s exclusion from Euro 2028, a tournament it is co-hosting, has raised alarm bells in the UK. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to UEFA’s concerns and whether it will proceed with the proposed legislation in its current form.
First Piper 