Member

History tells us that any perception of undue government influence or interference could lead to the suspension of national teams and clubs. Do the Government truly want to risk England being removed from the Euros or the World Cup? Do they want to risk Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool being banned from the Champions League, or indeed Stockport County rising to the glorious heights that the noble Lord, Lord Goddard, knows it will? As my noble friend Lord Maude says, this is a very serious jeopardy and now is the moment that the Minister can allay our concerns, and the concerns of many football fans who are following the debate and are anxious about the Bill. Without this amendment, or something like it, the Government risk opening up the possibility of such jeopardies, which is something that no football fan would, I think, ever forgive.