England may be 'kicked out' of Euro 2028 as The FA warned of 'ultimate sanction' (original) (raw)
The UK and Ireland are set to host the next edition of the tournament - but plans to introduce a football regulator could see England being banned from their own competition
England could be kicked out of Euro 2028 over Labour's plans to introduce a football regulator
England have been warned they could be booted out of Euro 2028 - despite being the hosts of the competition - if Prime Minister Keir Starmer moves ahead with plans to introduce a football regulator.
The next edition of the Euros will be held in the UK and Ireland for the first time since 1996, with matches also set to be staged in Wales, Dublin and Belfast, after the joint bid won an uncontested selection process after Turkey dropped out.
But according to the Times, UEFA have warned that proposals that could give a new regulator to "oversee" clubs in England could put their position as hosts at risk.
A leaked letter from UEFA's general secretary Theodore Theodoridis to culture secretary Lisa Nandy insisted that England being independent from government interference was a "fundamental requirement".
Theodoridis is reported to have said: "We have specific rules that guard against [state meddling] in order to guarantee the autonomy of sport and fairness of sporting competition; the ultimate sanction for which would be excluding the federation from Uefa and teams from competition.”
A source told the publication: "The letter is clear that Uefa is watching closely, especially in relation to the FA’s role, and is more than prepared to intervene given their concern this may be the thin end of the wedge."
After top clubs Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United, Man City, Chelsea and Tottenham announced plans to join the European Super League in 2021 - before quickly withdrawing - the old Tory government initiated legislation for a new watchdog that would overlook English clubs and protect them from financial problems.
The UK and Ireland were confirmed as hosts last year - with Wembley Stadium set to stage the final (
Image:
Getty Images)
Labour has committed to its plan in their new manifesto after Starmer won the General Election in July, promising that Britain would be "the best place in the world to be a football fan" and promising that teams would stopped from being “siphoned off from the English football pyramid”.
The UK played host to a handful of games in Euro 2020 - with the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and Wembley Stadium staging matches in the group stage of the Europe-wide tournament before the latter hosted the semi-finals and final.
Last year it was confirmed England, Scotland, Wales, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland would still go through qualifying matches despite being hosts.
UEFA has reserved two "safety net births" for any of the five teams who fail to qualify automatically for the tournament.
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