Football Clubs: Ownership Test Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Londesborough
Main Page: Lord Londesborough (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)Department Debates - View all Lord Londesborough's debates with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
(2 years, 9 months ago)
Lords ChamberMy Lords, I should perhaps declare an interest as a supporter of West Ham United, which looks set to be owned by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský. But does the Minister agree that foreign ownership is not the core issue here—rather, it is the need for clearly defined integrity tests for all football club owners, whether British or foreign? Does he also agree that the fit and proper person test should include human rights, mindful of so-called “sportswashing”? On that basis, a club like Newcastle might not now be 80% owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
Tracey Crouch, in the fan-led review, makes the point about an integrity test. As I said, we welcome the report—we will look at all the recommendations and come forward with our response to them in due course.