Robertson: FA not Government should take the lead on football issues

Hugh Robertson, Shadow Sports Minister, comments on reports that Gordon Brown is developing plans to deal with the influx of foreign players in British Clubs.

Commenting on reports that Gordon Brown is developing plans to deal with the influx of foreign players in British clubs, Hugh Robertson, Shadow Sports Minister said:

“First we had the discredited pledge of British jobs for British workers, now Brown is promising something else which he cannot deliver with “British Players for British Clubs”. Once again Labour is playing politics with sport. It is for the FA to make a judgment over whether the number of foreign players or owners in the game is damaging English football not for the Government to make populist statements, which appear to be contrary to EU regulations.”

“Only today Michel Platini’s remarks on the World Cup bid, showed the dangers of politicians using sport to grab headlines. The Government should back off, stop trying to play this issue for party political purposes and let the FA get on with its job.”