UEFA, the controlling body for football in Europe, has called on the British government to introduce laws that would give the Football Association (FA) more power over how the Premier League is run.
According to the Guardian, a submission by UEFA to an all-party parliamentary football group, carrying out a consultation on football's governance, challenged the political clout of the Premier League’s power over English football’s governing body.
Referring to the Premier League's break with the FA in 1992, the submission says: “It is the experience across European football and sport that, almost without exception, breakaway leagues do not help the development of the sport as a whole (although they may benefit a small interest group).”
“Legislation can help to protect different sports from the unwanted side-effects of the haphazard way sport has developed – by helping to ensure sporting objectives are prioritised.”
“The overall framework and control of development policy and technical matters should be with the national association for all levels of football.”
The report also expressed UEFA’s unease at the Premier League being the controlling body for top-flight referees in England.
