"The government is studying the feasibility of establishing an independent football regulatory body. This is a decision we have been planning for many years. We all agree that the development of professional football should be further regulated and supervised."
This was a public statement made by Oliver Dowden, the newly appointed UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, during an interview with the BBC on February 13.
Standing next to him was Nigel Huddleston, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
This clearly reflected the will of the highest-ranking department in the British government responsible for the sports industry.
"We will require all football clubs, from the National League to the Premier League, to prove that their business model is sustainable. Clubs that cannot prove their financial health will not be allowed to compete."
"We also agree that fans should have a greater say in club decisions."
Oliver Dowden noted that this was still just a framework, but some measures were already being converted into policy and even undergoing pilot testing. This did not begin with him.
This proposal was first put forward by MP Tracey Crouch during her time on the Select Committee on Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It gained wide attention within the government.
While serving as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport and Civil Society from 2015 to 2018, Tracey Crouch's proposal received full backing and a feasibility study was initiated.
Over the past three years, the position of head of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has changed hands several times. From Karen Bradley to Matt Hancock, then Jeremy Wright, followed by Baroness Nicky Morgan, and now Oliver Dowden, the role has seen five holders in just three years.
Some held the position for a year, others for just a few months. Their time was brief.
So this initiative had always been Tracey Crouch's push. Now it was Nigel Huddleston's turn.
After Oliver Dowden finished, Huddleston outlined the government's preliminary plan, covering club operations and finances, fan engagement, and stricter vetting of club owners and board members.
The key points were threefold: first, fans should have a greater voice; second, clubs must maintain financial health; third, owners and board members must undergo stricter financial and background checks.
"This is to ensure that our clubs are in the right hands."
What constitutes the "right hands"?
Neither Dowden nor Huddleston elaborated, but the meaning was already clear.
...
"From the British government's perspective, tighter regulation is necessary. Not just to limit foreign investment, but more importantly, because the Premier League has become a major industry for the UK."
Su Qing came from a government background, even a ministry-level position, so she naturally understood such government-level decisions more clearly.
Although governments in different countries operate differently, their thinking and motivations are often similar.
"James Ratcliffe is a very shrewd man. He sensed the shift in public sentiment and even helped push it forward. Now, almost all Premier League clubs are in the hands of foreign capital."
Su Qing's words plunged the conference room into silence and deep thought.
The Premier League may have become globalized, but at its core, it belongs to England.
The British government has no intention of stifling the league or hindering its globalization. That would go against their own interests.
But the fact that so many foreign investors have taken control of Premier League clubs has triggered significant backlash within the UK.
To put it plainly, they need to respond to public opinion. After all, they want votes.
Is it really appropriate to give fans more power in club decisions?
"The new football regulatory body won't be established overnight. It'll take quite some time because, as we all know, it involves the power balance between the FA and the Premier League," Su Qing continued.
The Football Association is an independent entity, not part of the government. The Premier League is a corporate entity, also not under government control.
Currently, the FA and the Premier League jointly regulate the top flight. If the government establishes a new oversight body, what role would the FA and Premier League still play?
Keep in mind, the Premier League's shareholders are the 20 Premier League clubs.
The issues at play here are extremely complex.
However, when it comes to the specifics of the Manchester United takeover, the Qatari consortium has run into real trouble.
Because judging by public opinion, British fans lean heavily in favor of Ratcliffe.
Naturally so. No one wants their country's top club to be in foreign hands.
Ratcliffe, for his part, has his own motivations. Moving his company headquarters to Switzerland had offended the British public, and now he's trying to fix his image.
At the same time, his petrochemical empire does not align with today's mainstream values, such as environmentalism. That's why he's been investing in sports—acquiring Nice, Lausanne, Team Sky, and more.
Manchester United is clearly the most valuable card he can play right now.
So Ratcliffe is going all out to acquire United, portraying himself as the club's savior, as if he's rescuing them from disaster.
And to be fair, Manchester United fans are desperate for a savior.
Even better if that savior is a wealthy British businessman.
The British government's timing couldn't have been better.
The Qatari consortium may be wealthier, but in this battle for Manchester United, they are no longer the favorites.
"Ratcliffe said he's going to cripple us!"
Gao Shen laughed after saying that.
"You all know, for the past few years, every summer, people thought we'd be raided and ruined. But every season, we've kept up strong performances, including this one."
Right now, Leeds United sit second in the Premier League, have reached the Champions League semi-finals, and are still alive in the FA Cup.
Is that not impressive?
"It's fine. I'll wait for him to come!" Gao Shen said confidently.
His calm confidence boosted morale among Lucas, Borrell, and the rest.
He was absolutely right.
The media love to stir up drama. For years, they've predicted Leeds United's downfall. And what has happened?
If they were right, Leeds would have been relegated to the National League by now.
But Gao Shen has kept the club thriving.
Even without the advantage of being a transmigrator, he had been preparing Leeds for this moment for years.
...
The joint statement by the two senior UK officials triggered a huge response in the UK and across European football.
Everyone recognized that, amid growing scrutiny across Europe, the British government was now tightening its grip on professional football, especially with rising suspicion toward foreign investment.
Forget everything else, just look at the Glazers. They've been draining the Premier League and British football for years. How could that continue?
Of course, the UK government wouldn't dare to directly confront American capital. Everyone knows the nature of the UK-US relationship.
Privately, the British may think of themselves as America's father, but everyone knows who holds the real power.
The Qatari consortium quickly issued a response. A spokesperson said they would carefully assess the British government's stance and demonstrate their utmost sincerity, stressing they would not give up on acquiring Manchester United until the very last moment.
The Qatari government also emphasized that the acquisition was not a government action, but a private enterprise decision. It was part of the market economy and unrelated to national policy.
But British media largely agreed that, now that the government had spoken, the Qatari consortium's chances of taking over Manchester United were slim.
Several media outlets reported that the Qataris had begun considering other Premier League clubs.
For example, Tottenham Hotspur, whose negotiations with the US-based Todd Boehly consortium had recently stalled.
This North London club could become a target.
If that happens, combined with the Saudi consortium's planned takeover of Newcastle, the Premier League's power structure would shift significantly. The traditional Big 6 might become a Big 8, throwing the league into chaos.
The so-called Big 8 would then be: Leeds United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United. The latter three are currently embroiled in ownership battles.
Following the government's supportive stance, billionaire James Ratcliffe formally submitted his takeover proposal for Manchester United. Unlike the Qataris, he did not intend to buy the entire club. He only wanted the Glazers' 69 percent stake.
In other words, after the deal, Manchester United's shares would remain on the New York Stock Exchange, and the club would still be publicly listed. Ratcliffe would simply become the majority shareholder.
Beyond Manchester United, the British government's statement has also made other foreign investors in the Premier League nervous.
Nearly every foreign stakeholder, including Gao Shen, has started analyzing the UK government's evolving stance and new regulations on foreign ownership.
Given the Premier League's immense influence and value, often worth hundreds of millions or even billions of pounds, no one can afford to ignore it.
Gao Shen, in particular, is very sensitive to this, given his background.
Privately, he has already drafted contingency plans with Su Qing and Lucas. In the worst-case scenario, they would sell Leeds United, cash out, and withdraw. Better that than being forcibly taken over or having assets seized.
As for "private property being sacred and inviolable," Gao Shen never believed it.
This reflects his overall approach to life: always striving for the best but preparing for the worst.
Of course, selling would be the last resort.
Gao Shen has deep connections and major influence in European football, both across the continent and within the UK. He is not someone to be trifled with.
If the British government truly tried to act against him, it would have to consider the consequences carefully.
Even a rabbit will bite if cornered.
If they really push Gao Shen too far, even government intervention might not be enough to stop what happens next.
(To be continued.)