The Premier League will review their current owners’ and directors’ test
The Premier League are considering implementing a human rights component to their owners’ and directors’ test as part of a review into the current system.
As reported by The Guardian, a review has been launched after the league faced pressure to broaden the criteria any prospective owners’ must meet should they wish to acquire a club in the top flight.
Whilst the league has tried to talk down the ongoing conversations – stressing that it is just a normal procedure they take – any change to the current test would have to go down to a vote, which would need to be approved by at least 14 of the 20 clubs.
It comes after Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale after two decades at Stamford Bridge following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Abramovich’s close affiliations to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Sportswashing works. pic.twitter.com/zYxWbHagku
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 2, 2022
Meanwhile back in October the Saudi Public Investment Fund were able to successfully take over Newcastle United with an 80 per cent majority stake – despite widespread from supporters and human rights groups given Saudi Arabia’s appalling human rights records.
Gary Neville has previously spoken out about the need for a review into the way the owners’ and directors’ test is operated, saying that “it needs to be more robust and resilient.”
A government fan-led review from Tracey Crouch MP Â in November also proposed that the owners’ and directors’ test should assess a candidate’s integrity or if “the proposed owner is of good character such that they should be allowed to be the custodian of an important community asset.”
The Premier League has also held discussions with Amnesty International in regards to their idea of imposing a fully-compliant owners’ test.
The test would assess any prospective owner or director to see if they had been involved in violations of international human rights laws or if any go against the league’s strict anti-discrimination policy.
Related links:
- Roman Abramovich confirms he is selling Chelsea
- Football’s response to Russia: The clubs and organisations cutting ties over Ukraine invasion
- Artem Dzyuba breaks silence on Russian invasion of Ukraine
