The intervention of Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the battle for control of Chelsea FC gives the Treasury a belated chance to get a grip — to the overall benefit of English football. The Premier League need another bunch of foreign owners like a hole in the head.
So far, the Treasury’s handling of the sale has been clumsy and maladroit, and sometimes ludicrous.
Why were there empty seats at Chelsea against West Ham? Because the Treasury refused to allow the club to sell non-season tickets, even though they have already prevented any benefit from going to Roman Abramovich.