Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any officials, advisers or ministers from his Department have held discussions with representatives of (a) the Qatari government, (b) the consortium led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani or (c) Manchester United Football Club on that consortium's proposed takeover of that club.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Neither Cabinet Office Ministers nor Officials have held meetings with the Government of Qatar, the consortium led by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, or Manchester United Football Club to discuss the takeover of the club.
This is a matter for the owners and potential purchasers to resolve, including meeting any relevant requirement of the league in which they compete.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any officials, advisers or ministers from his Department have held discussions with representatives of (a) the Qatari government, (b) the consortium led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani or (c) Manchester United Football Club on that consortium's proposed takeover of that club.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
While we are aware of interest to purchase the club, neither FCDO Ministers or Officials have held meetings with the Government of Qatar, the consortium led by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, or Manchester United Football Club to discuss the takeover of the club. This is a matter for the owners and potential purchasers to resolve, including meeting any relevant requirement of the league in which they compete.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether any officials, advisers or ministers from her Department have held discussions with representatives of (a) the Qatari government, (b) the consortium led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani or (c) Manchester United Football Club on that consortium's proposed takeover of that club.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
There has been no engagement to discuss Manchester United Football Club investment or takeover with the Qataris.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether any officials, advisers or ministers from her Department have held discussions with representatives of (a) the Qatari government, (b) the consortium led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani or (c) Manchester United Football Club on that consortium's proposed takeover of that club.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Officials, advisers and ministers from my department have had no such discussions.
Any purchase of a football club is a matter for the owners and potential purchasers to resolve, including meeting any relevant requirement of the league in which they compete.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which football clubs have benefited from the Multi-Sports Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund from the Irish Football Association and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), and how much each successful applicant has secured.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
In 2021/22, the Irish Football Association invested £700,000 of DCMS funding via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme. This went towards 26 projects across Northern Ireland, selected for their ability to drive increased participation, with a particular focus on improved facilities in deprived areas, supporting multi-sport use and facilitating use by currently under-represented groups. These are shown in the following table, as published on gov.uk on 25 March 2022.
Recipient | Local authority | Funding granted |
Ballyvea Football Club Ltd | Newry, Mourne and Down | £30,000.00 |
Dungiven Celtic Youth Football Club | Derry City and Strabane | £28,554.00 |
Newcastle Football Club | Newry, Mourne and Down | £30,000.00 |
Greenisland Football Club | Mid and East Antrim | £30,000.00 |
Abbey Villa Football Club | Ards and North Down | £25,000.00 |
Comber Rec FC | Ards and North Down | £29,978.00 |
NFC Kesh | Fermanagh and Omagh | £29,904.00 |
Belfast Celtic CIC | Belfast City | £25,936.00 |
Fivemiletown United Football Club | Mid Ulster | £27,950.00 |
Craigavon City Football Club | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon | £21,840.00 |
Shorts Football Club | Belfast City | £29,250.00 |
Enniskillen Rangers Football Club | Fermanagh and Omagh | £20,486.28 |
Beragh Swifts Community Group | Fermanagh and Omagh | £28,296.00 |
Crewe United FC | Lisburn and Castlereagh | £30,000.00 |
Dromore Amateurs Football Club | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon | £30,000.00 |
Lisburn Rangers Football Club | Lisburn and Castlereagh | £29,375.00 |
Dromara Village Football Club | Lisburn and Castlereagh | £19,270.00 |
Rathfriland Football Club | Newry, Mourne and Down | £30,000.00 |
Caledon Rovers Football Club | Mid Ulster | £17,527.00 |
Oxford Sunnyside FC | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon | £30,000.00 |
Mountjoy United Football Club | Fermanagh and Omagh | £25,016.53 |
Crumlin United Football Club | Antrim and Newtownabbey | £24,150.00 |
Kilmore Rec. FC | Newry, Mourne and Down | £29,595.00 |
Saintfield United Football Club | Newry, Mourne and Down | £30,000.00 |
Orangefield Old Boys Football Club | Belfast City | £29,768.00 |
Ardstraw Football Club | Derry City and Strabane | £18,100.00 |
Projects receiving funding in 2022/23 under the programme will be confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps with (a) football authorities and (b) the police to help (i) tackle large-scale pitch invasions in stadiums and (ii) protect the workplace safety of professional footballers.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The safety of all players participating in football matches is a priority for the government.
Prior to the start of the 2022/23 football season, the Premier League and English Football League publicised that any fan entering the pitch would be banned by the club they support for a minimum period of one year. These bans could also be extended to accompanying parents or guardians of children who take part in these activities. These measures are in addition to the existing Football Banning Order regime which can be imposed by a court for a football-related offence, including entering the pitch.
The government will continue to work with the police and football authorities to review all forms of fan disorder at football matches.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to (a) introduce an Independent Regulator of English Football and (b) strengthen rules on ownership of football clubs.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
We will publish a White Paper in the next couple of weeks that sets out a detailed plan on how football will be reformed through regulation, including rules around football club ownership.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to help ensure the English Football League and football club owners are accountable to fans.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
We recognise the need for football to be reformed to ensure the game’s long term sustainability. In April 2022, the government responded to the Fan Led Review of Football governance and confirmed support for greater fan engagement.
One of my first meetings as Minister for Sport was with the Football Supporters’ Association to hear their concerns. We will publish a White Paper setting out our detailed response to the Fan Led Review of Football Governance in the next few weeks.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 22 January 2022 to Question 111571 on Football: Safety, what recent progress her Department has made on ensuring fan safety at football grounds; and if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of safety issues experienced by Newcastle United fans at Hillsborough on 7 January 2023.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The safety of spectators at sporting events is of the highest importance to His Majesty’s Government. We continue to work closely with the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA), clubs, governing bodies and local authorities to ensure that football fans can continue to enjoy the sport whilst attending matches safely.
The Football Association are currently investigating reports of overcrowding at the Leppings Lane End at Hillsborough Stadium on 7 January 2023. The ultimate responsibility for the safety of spectators lies at all times with the ground management and the SGSA remains in contact with the club, Sheffield City Council and the Safety Advisory Group as the facts are established and any implications for safety management arrangements at Hillsborough are considered. We are in contact with the SGSA on this matter.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) the FA, (b) Sheffield Wednesday Football Club and (c) the Football Supporters Association on fan safety at Hillsborough Stadium.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Football Association are investigating reports of overcrowding at the Leppings Lane End at Hillsborough Stadium on 7 January 2023. The ultimate responsibility for the safety of spectators lies at all times with the ground management and the SGSA remains in contact with the club, Sheffield City Council and the Safety Advisory Group as the facts are established and any implications for safety management arrangements at Hillsborough are considered. We are in contact with the SGSA on this matter.