UEFA has warned that England could be removed from its competitions if a proposed independent football regulator is deemed to be government interference.
The European governing body raised concerns in a letter to the UK’s Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, about the proposed Independent Football Regulator (IFR).
This regulatory body aims to ensure the financial sustainability of clubs and prevent them from joining breakaway competitions like the European Super League.
UEFA’s regulations stipulate that there should be no government interference in the running of football.
In his letter, UEFA’s General Secretary, Theodore Theodoridis, stated that the ultimate sanction for such interference could be excluding the English Football Association (FA) and its teams from UEFA competitions.
England, a recent runner-up in the European Championships, is co-hosting the 2028 edition of the tournament.
If UEFA imposed its ultimate sanction, the England team could be barred from competing in the Euros, and Premier League clubs could be excluded from the Champions League and other UEFA competitions.
The UK government’s Football Governance Bill aims to give an independent regulator powers to safeguard the future of clubs, including stricter tests for club owners and operators.
UEFA, however, argues that football regulation should be managed by the national federation.
