UEFA has warned the UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy that plans for a football watchdog could see England banned from the Euros.
The plans, which were brought forth in July, would establish a body to oversee the top five tiers of male football which would aim to "protect clubs" by "ensuring their financial sustainability".
According to reports by the BBC, UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis wrote to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, telling her: "We do have concerns remaining... as normally football regulation should be managed by the national federation.
"One particular area of concern stems from one of UEFA's fundamental requirements, which is that there should be no government interference in the running of football.
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"We have specific rules that guard against this in order to guarantee the autonomy of sport and fairness of sporting competition; the ultimate sanction for which would be excluding the federation from UEFA and teams from competition."
UEFA warns England could be banned from the Euros over regulator plan
The plan, which would see the appointment of a football regulator, was introduced after issues like mismanagement and concerns over a breakaway European Super League were raised.
The regulator would oversee a licencing system to ensure clubs in England are run sustainably while aiming to give fans a greater say over decisions.
However, Theodoridis warned Lisa Nandy: "UEFA is concerned about the potential for scope creep within the IFR [independent football regulator].
"While the initial intent of the IFR is to oversee the long-term financial sustainability of clubs and heritage assets, there is always a risk that, once established, the IFR may expand its mandate beyond these areas."
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He added that this "could undermine the established structures and processes of the sport, and amount to government interference".
He stated that it is an "imperative to protect and preserve the independence of the FA," telling the Culture Secretary that "compromises to the FA's autonomy as the primary regulator of football in England" would not comply with the UEFA and Fifa statutes.
He added: "The IFR's scope must remain focused on the long-term financial sustainability of clubs with a view to ensuring that it does not overstep into areas that might be perceived as external interference in football governance."
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