Yorkshire MEP leads European review of football
UEFA, football's governing body in Europe, and European governments have appointed Yorkshire & Humber MEP Richard Corbett to investigate the health of the sport and make recommendations for reform.
This comprehensive review of all aspects of the game has been prompted by a constellation of threats to the future of football.
They include:
- the concentration of wealth and power among an elite group of clubs;
- the influence of far-Eastern betting syndicates;
- the role of agents;
- collective (i.e. league rather than individual club) marketing of TV rights;
- problems concerning the provenance of external money entering the game;
- hooliganism;
- stadium safety and others.
Richard Corbett will sit on the 13 person review group and will chair its political committee, drafting the recommendations to be made to public authorities (EU and national governments). The other members are experts in finance, law, economics, and other aspects of football.
The review was initiated by Richard Caborn, UK Sports Minister, during the British Presidency of the EU.
Richard Corbett MEP said:
"I am delighted to be offered this opportunity.
"I have been involved with the European Parliament's all-party Friends of Football group for some time, and I think such a review is vital to the future success of the sport".
Richard Caborn MP said:
"Football is now a global sport, and we have an opportunity to examine many of the changes that have taken place in recent years.
"It is time for the game to take bold steps towards better governance, but it is also clear that any solutions have to be European solutions."
Rio Ferdinand's comments were reported across the media on 15 March 2006.
more information
Press enquiries: Contact Luke Thorne, Press and Communications Officer to Richard Corbett MEP
- phone 0113 245 8987
- e-mail luke@richardcorbett.org.uk
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