FA Categorically Would Block a Removal of Promotion and Relegation Structure

The Football Association (FA) has stipulated that it would block any plans to abolish the promotion and relegation structure from the Premier League after League Managers Association (LMA) chief Richard Bevan said yesterday that several foreign-owned clubs wanted to remove the system.

Bevan also suggested that increased foreign ownership of Premier League clubs increased the likelihood the proposed system will become a reality.

Blackburn joined the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea when they were taken over by Indian-owned Venky’s Group last season, meaning that nearly half the league’s 20 clubs are now under foreign ownership.

Premier League rules state that 14 votes from their 20 members are needed to make changes.

Bevan also added that a new owner of a Premier League club would not necessarily need to be foreign for them to see there would be money to be made from scrapping relegation.

But it is within the FA’s power to reject any proposal that alters the game’s structure.

An FA spokesman told The Sun newspaper: “The FA’s share can be used so it has to approve any major rule change. This covers changes to promotion and relegation.”