L

Lord Markham (Con)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 15 January 2025

Debate

Football Governance Bill [HL]

Contribution

I will be brief because my noble friend Lady Brady made the points extremely well and we have debated parachute payments quite a bit already this evening. The only thing I would say is that they give clubs in the Premiership the incentive or the confidence to invest and in my understanding every European league now has some variation on that, because it is seen as a system that works. It is fundamental to the competitiveness of the Premier League. It underlies its whole audience appeal and broadcasters all round the world will make media sports rights payments to see such an exciting and competitive game. It is known that we would prefer that parachute payments were not included but, if they are going to be included, the proposal to make a three-year safety net as opposed to a one-year safety net is very sensible. In the conversations that the Minister helpfully set up with her officials, I could tell that it was something they understood and were quite well disposed towards. The fact, as my noble friend Lady Brady, said, that contracts for players are for three years shows the importance of having that. So I hope that this is a sensible amendment that the Minister can speak to.

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