Gary Neville believes US investment is a “danger” to English football following Chelsea owner Todd Boehly’s latest comments. While speaking to a SALT conference in New York, the Blues chief pitched radical changes to the sport.
One of these included a north vs south all-star game each season - akin to the annual contest in the NBA. However, these proposals hit a nerve with the majority of football fans, who feel the move would be another money-grabbing exercise that would derail the modern game further.
Manchester United legend Neville has used the controversy to slam US ownership. As it stands, 10 Premier League clubs are now either wholly or part-owned by Americans.
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Owners from across the pond were seen as the driving force behind the failed European Super League plot in April last year. Hostilities from Man United, Liverpool and Arsenal supporters towards their owners ramped up after the universally-hated plans were scrapped.
Leeds United are one of those 10 clubs that are partly owned by Americans. NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers first acquired a stake in 2018 and have the option to finalise a 100% takeover by 2024.
So far, Whites supporters are yet to have any qualms over their prospective owners while Andrea Radrizzani holds a majority stake. However, Neville, who has campaigned for an independent regulator in English football, fired an ominous warning should the takeover go through.
“I keep saying it but the quicker we get the regulator in, the better,” he tweeted. “US investment into English football is a clear and present danger to the pyramid and fabric of the game.
“They just don’t get it and think differently. They also don’t stop till they get what they want!”
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan agreed with Neville, despite being a vocal critic of the ex-England right-back in the past. He added: “I don’t often agree with TBA Mayor of Manchester but, on the subject of US ownership, it will attempt to bring about unwelcome change.”
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