Following April’s European Super League attempted breakaway, more than 100,000 people — along with 23 former footballers including Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Lineker — undersigned an open letter to fans, launching a parliamentary petition calling for an independent regulator in English football.

The petition will now be considered as a parliamentary debate.

The petitioners argued that a need to reform the game’s governance was evident. 

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“As football fans, we were appalled by the attempt to set up a European Super League,” reads the letter, which has also been signed by Jamie Redknapp and Micah Richards.

The letter argued that the breakaway league was hampering the fabric of the game and “destroying the concept of sporting merit and open competition.”

“Supporters came together with one voice to oppose the cynical power-grab by a group of wealthy owners. The furious protests were heard and the breakaway fell apart.

“Now we must make sure this never happens again. Without swift and direct intervention, the return of a European Super League will be a constant threat.”

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham all joined the European Super League, although they withdrew with 48 hours of its launch after fans protested.

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Hence, not only for an independent regulator but the petition also calls for government legislation that would limit Premier League clubs from breaking away and abandoning the football pyramid. 

“We welcome the fan-led Government review of the game and hope it leads to lasting change on an array of important concerns; including coordinated strategies to deal with racism, supporters’ representation within clubs, LGBTQ issues, ticket costs and the distribution of income,” the letter added.