Covid-19: Football
(Chesterfield) (Lab)
What recent assessment he has made of the financial effect of the
covid-19 outbreak on professional football; and what steps the
Government are taking to support football clubs during that
outbreak. [901882]
The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
()
Football clubs form an integral part of this country, and it is
important that they are given as much support as possible during
these difficult times. Ministers and officials in my Department
are engaging with football governing authorities about how they
can access Government schemes—many have done so. I welcome the
Premier League’s announcement that it will advance funds of £125
million to the English football league and national league, to
help clubs throughout the football pyramid. In addition, I have
personally been in talks with the Premier League with a view to
getting football up and running as soon as possible, in order to
support the whole football community. Of course, any such moves
will have to be consistent with public health guidance.
Mr Perkins
I am sure that many people will be delighted to hear what the
Secretary of State had to say about football getting going again,
particularly with Sheffield United’s ambitious European campaign
in full flow. He is absolutely right about the impact on the
professional game. Many lower league clubs and clubs across the
football community have done incredibly important work in their
communities over this time, stressing the extent to which they
are community assets rather than simply businesses. Can the
Secretary of State say anything about what can be done to protect
those lower league and national league clubs, which face
unprecedented problems at this moment in time?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question; he raises an
important point. The first thing we can do is help get the
premier league up and running again, because that will then help
release resources through the rest of the system. We have already
seen the £125 million support that has been made available, and
in addition to that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media
and Sport is working with Sport England. They
have £195 million for sport and physical activity, including a
£20 million emergency grant for clubs and community assets that
are in trouble.
