Sports minister urges top-flight clubs to support EFL and ‘those most in need’

Despite successful pilots, the return of fans to sports events has been paused following new restrictions aimed at tackling rising infection rates nationally.

National League clubs have received an offer of financial aid from the Government which will help them start the season this weekend.

It was feared that without Government intervention, many of the 67 member clubs could have faced financial ruin if they could not rely on matchday revenue.

The Premier League, though, remains under pressure to help provide a bail-out package for those clubs across the EFL and below, whose very existence is under threat following last week’s decision to keep turnstiles, which were due to re-open on a limited basis from October 1, closed.

Responding to an urgent question in the House of Commons tabled by Conservative MP Tracey Crouch on Government support for amateur and professional sport, Huddleston stressed dialogue was continuing over how best to channel support “focused on those that are desperately in need”.

“For football, we are asking the Premier League to support EFL clubs, the higher end of the football pyramid,” Huddleston told MPs.

“(On Tuesday), we also provided the National League with assurance that financial support from the Government will be forthcoming so they can start this season this Saturday.

“We have asked for detailed financial returns from all major spectator sports to see what support they need.

“We expect those returns by the end of (Wednesday) and any club in immediate financial distress should alert their sport’s governing body.”

There had been “constructive conversations” with the Premier League and EFL, Huddleston added.

The sports minister, though, did not confirm or deny whether the Premier League will have to foot the entire bill for any financial relief package for lower-league football clubs.

“They do recognise their responsibility,” he said. “They are at the top of the pyramid and it is perfectly fair and reasonable that those with the broadest shoulders carry the biggest burden.

“They accept that and understand that, and we are working on those details at the moment.”

Labour MP Chris Evans said British football’s top 100 earners should consider donating a week’s wages to support community clubs across the country.

Evans, MP for Islwyn, proposed the creation of a trust funded by high-earning footballers, some with wages of “£350,000 a week, £500,000 a week,” he said, after pushing for the expansion of community ownership for sports clubs.

Huddleston replied: “Both now and in the future, I encourage all stakeholders in sports to do the right thing and play their part, and he’s making some good points about voluntary donations as well as what we will be requiring and expecting from sport at various levels.

“He’s also highlighting some innovative models and business models which again I think should be looked at very, very carefully.”

Huddleston also confirmed technologies are being considered with the aim of potentially opening sport sooner than having a vaccine.

“We will not pursue wasteful initiatives, we are very aware and conscious of making sure public money is spent very carefully, and we have conversations with the Treasury about those very topics,” the sports minister said.

Huddleston, though, defended the decision to put the return of fans to sports venues on hold.

“We all want our fans back in stadia as soon as possible. Sport without fans is poorer in so many ways,” he said.

“We did trial the return of fans with 12 successful pilot events, however, rising infection rates across the country meant that the Government had to act and we could not proceed on October 1 as planned.

“We have to contain the virus and given the backdrop of rising infection rates we had to press the pause button.”