European football body UEFA has warned the UK government that plans for an independent football regulator could breach its “no government interference” rules, risking England’s Euro 2028 participation and club access to UEFA competitions.
Theodoridis’s letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy reminded ministers of UEFA’s strict autonomy rules – “no government interference in the running of football” – and hinted that violating this could see national teams and clubs excluded from European play.
At the same time, UEFA’s overhaul of its club competitions is benefiting English teams: thanks to strong performances, the Premier League has secured an extra Champions League place for 2025/26, potentially allowing six English clubs into next season’s UCL.
Meanwhile, the FA has been enforcing discipline at home, levying big penalties on clubs and players.
Arsenal were fined £65,000 for a mass confrontation with a referee, Tranmere midfielder Sam Finley was banned for 13 games for using a homophobic slur, and Sheffield United were fined a further £180,000 after a post-match melee.
These developments together will shape how UK clubs pursue European ambitions under new governance rules and competition formats.
UEFA warning on UK football regulator
UEFA’s intervention centres on the UK’s proposed Football Governance Bill and its Independent Football Regulator.
In a leaked letter (dated September 2024) UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis explicitly cautioned that giving government-linked powers to the regulator could breach UEFA statutes.
He wrote that one “fundamental requirement” is no state interference in football and warned that the ultimate sanction would be “excluding the federation from UEFA and teams from competition”.
In practice, that means England could be barred from co-hosting Euro 2028 and its clubs could be barred from Champions League/Europa League if UEFA deems the regulator to have overstepped.
However, UEFA and UK government sources have since tried to calm fears, saying the regulator’s core mandate (financial oversight of clubs) is acceptable so long as it doesn’t expand into other areas.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Prime Minister Keir Starmer have insisted the regulator will be independent of ministers.
Supporters’ groups also stress that any “scope creep” into sporting or trade policy should be removed from the Bill to avoid conflict with UEFA’s autonomy rules.
Champions League expansion boosts Premier League
While the governance row plays out, UEFA has increased English clubs’ rewards on the pitch.
The 2024/25 season introduced a 36-team “Swiss-model” league phase for the Champions League, and England’s strong coefficient means the Premier League is guaranteed an extra “European Performance” qualifying spot.
In practice this means the top five in next season’s PL will qualify directly for the 2025/26 Champions League.
In addition, the winners of this season’s Europa League (Tottenham Hotspur) will also gain automatic entry, giving England a record sixth participant.
According to UEFA’s access list (May 2025), Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea have already clinched four spots in 2025/26, with Spurs qualifying via the Europa League, and Aston Villa set to benefit from the association ranking “EPS” spot.
This unprecedented level of representation – potentially six clubs – reflects the Premier League’s recent continental success.
Arsenal’s captain Martin Odegaard celebrates after scoring in the Champions League quarter-final win over Real Madrid.
Arsenal’s European form helped secure an extra CL place for England in 2025/26. (Photo: Action Images)
The new format itself means each club will play eight different opponents and only the top eight in the combined table go straight to the last 16.
Early critics grumbled about “too many games” (ex-Liverpool striker Thierry Henry’s words) but broadcasters and some pundits hailed the drama.
Liverpool’s Arne Slot noted that even big teams (City, PSG) had to fight in every round, cutting down on “dead rubber” fixtures.
For Premier League teams this promises more high-profile matches and revenue.
The net result is that the English game enters 2025/26 with more Champions League berths than ever before – a stark contrast to the warning over the domestic regulator.
FA disciplinary actions on clubs
Back in England, the Football Association has been stern with clubs. On 17 February 2025 the FA announced Arsenal would pay a £65,000 fine after several players surrounded referee Michael Oliver during a January away game.
Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly had just been sent off, and although the red card was overturned on appeal, the FA said that “being overturned on appeal does not justify the reaction” of players confronting the referee.
Arsenal admitted they failed to control their players, and the fine is more than three times the standard penalty due to the severity of the misconduct.
Tranmere Rovers midfielder Sam Finley has been given a 13-match ban and £2,000 fine for using a homophobic slur in a League Two match.
Tranmere Rovers midfielder Sam Finley was handed a 13-game suspension (plus a £2,000 fine) in late April after admitting he called an opponent a derogatory slur in a League Two game.
The ban is unusually long (one game above the FA’s 12-match cap for such offences) because Finley had prior similar incidents.
The FA noted this was his third ‘aggravated breach’, but the independent panel did impose the minimum in deference to mitigating factors (Finley’s remorse and lack of premeditation).
Tranmere condemned the behaviour internally, and Finley must also complete an educational programme as part of his sanction.
Sheffield United players at Plymouth in April 2025, where a post-match altercation led to a hefty FA fine for the Blades.
Sheffield United’s players and staff have also been repeatedly disciplined this season. In May the FA fined Sheffield Utd £180,000 after a mass confrontation during their away match at Plymouth on 12 April.
That was the Blades’ sixth misconduct breach of the campaign, bringing the club’s cumulative fines this season to a staggering £445,500.
The FA described the incidents (pitches invasions, verbal abuse and a tunnel melee) as “an incredibly poor period of behaviour”.
In contrast, Plymouth were fined only £7,500 for their part in the fracas.
Sheffield’s manager Chris Wilder, who was involved in a late tunnel row with Plymouth players, downplayed the fuss in the media.
Wilder told reporters that he had merely spoken to his own players on the pitch after the defeat and that any clash “was two teams fighting different battles”.
“I’ve got no issues with Plymouth Argyle,” he said, noting that United had formally responded to the FA with their account of events.
Nevertheless, the extent of Sheffield’s sanctions – including disallowed promotion for a play-off spot had they finished higher – highlights the FA’s tougher approach to order and conduct this year.
Impact and outlook for clubs
Taken together, these UEFA and FA decisions have far-reaching implications.
On one hand, English clubs look set to enjoy unprecedented European opportunity: expanded competition formats and rewards for performance mean more Champions League games and revenue than ever.
On the other hand, the domestic game faces new constraints.
The government’s football regulator – intended to impose financial discipline on clubs – must now be carefully designed to avoid triggering UEFA sanctions. Clubs must also navigate stricter FA oversight, knowing that misconduct by players or staff will likely result in heavy fines or suspensions (as recent cases show).
Ultimately, English football is at a crossroads. UEFA has signalled that it will back England’s commercial strength with more European slots, but it will not tolerate any sign of state meddling.
Observers note that any “scope creep” of the regulator into issues like ownership rules or refereeing could risk Europe’s cooperation.
Clubs, meanwhile, must balance heightened European ambitions with compliance at home.
The next season will test whether UK football can capitalise on its expanded Champions League access while staying within both FA regulations and UEFA’s strict autonomy rules, as the government finalises the regulator and teams prepare for a historic European campaign.
Sources: UEFA letter and official statements; UEFA qualification and format rules; Reuters and BBC coverage of FA charges; quotes from press briefings.
