Tracey Crouch, the author of Government’s fan-led review of football, has dismissed the hostile response to her report and suggested some outspoken top-flight chief executives have not actually read it.
The former Sports Minister was giving evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee and was asked about the reaction of the Premier League to her far-reaching proposals to reform the game, including the creation of an independent regulator.
While rebuffing some of the more extreme comments likening the reforms to the policies of Maoist China and North Korea, Crouch warned football it has missed any opportunity to maintain self-regulation by failing to take action over many years.