Member

Those relationships with the Football Association mean that that is where disputes are sorted out. The autonomy of global sport means that it is not for legislators but for the independent autonomy of the relationship between UEFA, FIFA and the FA to sort out problems as they exist. The moment you sever that link and place the powers of the governing body—the one body which is recognised by the international federations—in the hands of the state, without any role for the national governing body, you are heading for a car crash. It may not happen this year; it may not happen now. But it will happen in the future and will happen to the detriment of English football clubs. For those reasons, I would like to test the will of the House in the interests of our national game.