27 Nov 2008Sutcliffe against EU regulation of football clubs' finances

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance

Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe has weighed into the argument over French proposals to increase the regulation of sports in Europe, the Financial Times (FT) reports.

Sports ministers from EU countries are due to meet in Biarritz today (Thursday, November 20th) to discuss plans to hand over powers from national organisations such as the Premier League to European governing bodies.

While Mr Sutcliffe admits the UK government has sympathies with many of the plans put forward, he is less keen on allowing European institutions a say in the financial affairs of UK sports organisations.

"Many of the solutions have to be sorted out by sports themselves and by subsidiarity," the FT quotes him as saying.

"There are common problems, but no one-size-fits-all ... [The French licensing proposal] would be against the spirit of what we are trying to achieve."

However, culture secretary Andy Burnham insisted recently that he wanted the Premier League to report back to him on a number of issues including debt levels and financial transparency.

The French solution, which would involve the creation of a European independent body to regulate football, is being championed by French and EU president Nicholas Sarkozy.

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