Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the systemic risk of (1) foreign state ownership over sports clubs; and (2) reliance on foreign-funded sports infrastructure.

This Government is fully supportive of sustainable, long-term and legitimate investment and we know that it is crucial to the long-term health of our sporting ecosystem.

Sport operates independently from government, including setting its own checks and balances for responsible investment, but the Government recognises that any unsuitable or unstable ownership can expose clubs to financial collapse and threaten assets valued by fans and communities.

Any owner, with state backing or otherwise, is assessed against the same criteria by the Independent Football Regulator.