Editing Premier League (section)

===Criticism of governance ===
The Premier League has faced criticism of its [[governance]] due to an alleged lack of [[Transparency (behavior)|transparency]] and [[accountability]].

Following the Premier League's blocking of the [[2021 takeover of Newcastle United F.C.|attempted takeover of Newcastle United by a PIF-backed consortium]] through the league's [[Fit-and-proper-person test|Owners' and Directors' test]], many MPs, [[Newcastle United]] fans and related parties to the deal denounced the Premier League for its perceived lack of transparency and accountability throughout the process.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/12359153/newcastle-fans-kept-in-the-dark-by-premier-league-amid-ongoing-takeover|title=Newcastle fans 'kept in the dark' by Premier League amid ongoing takeover|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=8 August 2021|archive-date=9 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809234724/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/12359153/newcastle-fans-kept-in-the-dark-by-premier-league-amid-ongoing-takeover|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://theathletic.co.uk/1996879/2020/08/14/newcastle-richard-masters-letter-newcastle-takeover/ |title=Explained: the Premier League's letter about Newcastle's failed takeover |work=The Athletic |access-date=14 August 2020 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805143550/https://theathletic.co.uk/1996879/2020/08/14/newcastle-richard-masters-letter-newcastle-takeover/ |url-status=live |last1=Waugh |first1=Chris |last2=Slater |first2=Matt }}</ref><ref name="SkySports3">{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12349465/newcastle-takeover-amanda-staveley-wants-uk-government-and-premier-league-to-make-arbitration-transparent|title=Newcastle takeover: Amanda Staveley wants UK Government and Premier League to make arbitration transparent|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=8 August 2021|archive-date=9 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809234724/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12349465/newcastle-takeover-amanda-staveley-wants-uk-government-and-premier-league-to-make-arbitration-transparent|url-status=live}}</ref> On 6 July 2021, consortium member [[Amanda Staveley]] of PCP Capital Partners said that "fans surely deserve absolute transparency from the regulators across all their processes – to best ensure that they act responsibly. They (the Premier League) are performing a function like that of a government regulator – but without the same systems for accountability."<ref name=SkySports3/>

On 22 July 2021, [[Tracey Crouch|Tracey Crouch MP]] – chair of the fan-led review into the UK's football governance – announced in the review's interim findings that the Premier League had "lost the trust and confidence" of fans. The review also recommended that a new independent regulator be created to oversee matters such as club takeovers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57929695 |title=Dangers to English football 'very real', says chair of fan-led review into game |website=BBC Sport |access-date=8 August 2021 |archive-date=9 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809234719/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57929695 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/22/english-football-needs-independent-regulator-says-chair-of-fan-led-review-tracey-crouch|title=English football needs independent regulator, says chair of fan-led review|work=The Guardian|date=22 July 2021|access-date=8 August 2021|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807192625/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/22/english-football-needs-independent-regulator-says-chair-of-fan-led-review-tracey-crouch|url-status=live}}</ref>

Premier League chief executive [[Richard Masters (football)|Richard Masters]] had earlier spoken out against the implementation of an independent regulator, saying in May 2021, "I don't think that the independent regulator is the answer to the question. I would defend the Premier League's role as regulator of its clubs over the past 30 years."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/may/17/time-to-act-former-players-demand-independent-regulator-for-football |title='Time to act': Former players demand independent regulator for football |work=The Guardian |date=17 May 2021 |access-date=14 August 2021 |archive-date=14 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814045522/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/may/17/time-to-act-former-players-demand-independent-regulator-for-football |url-status=live }}</ref>