Football chiefs Richard Masters and Rick Parry have been called
in by the DCMS Committee over the delay in reaching a deal to
secure the future of Championship and lower league clubs,
following several months of failed negotiations. The first
session of the inquiry into sport in
our communities has been convened due to the urgent issues in
football but will also investigate the broader issues surrounding
the sustainability of football at a more grassroots level. There
will be questions on the state of EFL and Premier League
negotiations and obstacles to reaching a deal, the risk facing
clubs and the wider football ecosystem as well as the recent
proposal to reshape football financing and governance ‘Project
Big Picture’, also hearing from Greg Clarke on the FA’s interest.
Chair of the DCMS Committee said:
“Many of our football clubs are already facing a
precarious future yet they are being put at further risk because
the football authorities who should be showing real leadership
have reached a place of stalemate.
“The government has made it clear that it won’t step in.
A deal must be reached before it’s too late, the loss of any club
will leave a gaping hole in its community.
“We’re calling in football chiefs next week to put their
case in public in an attempt to break the deadlock between the
Premier League and EFL, it cannot go on.”
ENDS
Evidence session: Sport in our
communities
Tuesday 10 November, 09.30am
Witnesses from 09.30:
-
Richard Masters, Chief Executive, Premier
League
-
Rick Parry, Chair, English Football League
At approx. 10.30:
-
Greg Clarke, Chair, Football Association
Notes to editors:
- The inquiry into Sport in
our communities was launched on October 16 and
is accepting evidence until Monday 16 November. It aims to
examine the risks to the future of community sport, highlighted
by the Covid-19 pandemic. It will consider sports governance
and funding across a range of activities that fall under the
respective remits of UK Sport and Sport England as well as
examine the case for elite professional sports to support the
lower leagues and grassroots.
- The DCMS Committee last questioned Richard Masters, Premier
League CEO, on the re-opening of sport on Tuesday 30 June. Find
the transcript and link to recording here.
- Rick Parry, EFL Chairman, was last questioned by the
Committee on the impact of Covid-19 on Tuesday 5 May. Find the
transcript and link to recording here.
