Man City's owners to be banned and forced to sell club under proposed bill

Manchester City and Newcastle United would be forced to change ownership if a proposal to ban state-controlled clubs is approved.

The proposal, which has been put forward by Labour peer Lord Bassam of Brighton, has been submitted in an amendment to the Football Governance Bill that would introduce an independent regulator for the sport.

If the proposal is agreed by parliament, then Manchester City and Newcastle would be forced to change their ownership in order to be granted a licence by the regulator, as per a report from The Times.

Bassam's amendment states: “No state-controlled club may be granted an operating licence, and any affected club must satisfy the IFR [independent football regulator] that they have divested themselves of their state-control before applying for an operating licence."

It adds: “A state-controlled club is one which is wholly or majority-owned by individual(s), entities, or entities controlled by individual(s) who are deemed by the IFR or the secretary of state to be under the influence of any state actor, including but not limited to: members of any government or their immediate family, a head of state or their immediate family, diplomats, lobbyists, or other state representatives, or their immediate family, and sovereign wealth funds.”

So what are the chances of this happening? For it to become law, MPs in the House of Commons would have to back the amendment, which will only happen if the government agrees.

The likelihood of the amendment being agreed is 'small', according to the above report, but a number of Premier League clubs have previously urged the government to introduce such a ban.

As per the UK Parliament website, the Football Governance Bill would establish an independent football regulator and introduce a licensing system for football clubs, particularly the top five tiers (from the Premier League to the National League), as part of a new regulatory regime for men’s football in England.

The bill defines its key purpose as 'protecting and promoting the sustainability of English football'.

Changes proposed in the bill include strengthened ownership and directors’ tests, with sanctions available to deal with individuals deemed unsuitable, and restrictions on clubs operating teams in prohibited competitions or changing aspects of the club’s heritage without fan approval.

The Manchester City owner Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (centre with scarf) next to chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarrak (right). Image credit: Getty

The changes have been proposed following concerns over the financial sustainability of football, which has resulted in the collapse or near-collapse of some clubs, as well as ownership models and possible breakaway leagues.

The English Football League and the Football Supporters’ Association have backed the proposals in the bill, while the Premier League expressed concerns about how it might impact investment and competitiveness.