I don’t imagine Pep Guardiola is sitting in his office thinking about ways to change a winning formula. So why do we even want that?

The Premier League is the market leader in football. It is the most watched, most loved and most trusted competition in the world.

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It attracts the biggest names to these shores and is also one of Britain’s most respected global exports.

But we’re told that’s not good enough. The game needs a government-approved regulator.

Hmm. Think for a moment about the regulators.

They’ve done a fantastic job cleaning up our rivers, haven’t they? And what about ridding the city of devious bankers?

Everywhere you look, heavily regulated industries have caused massive failures.

The General Dental Council claims it is the UK regulator for dental professionals.

Try to book an NHS appointment with your local dentist now. It’s nothing to laugh about, even if you still have teeth left.

This country has many great institutions and organizations, from our leading universities to our remarkable record in film, music, fashion and the arts. But I would say the Premier League is our biggest success story.

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There was a time when foreigners coming to Britain asked their taxi driver if they had ever met the Queen. But today they want to talk about the Premier League.

Voices have supported this regulator-will-make-things-better nonsense, saying: ‘The football pyramid is suffering. The greedy grabbers at the top are not giving any support to the lower leagues.” Waste.

About 16 percent of Premier League revenue goes directly to the rest of the pyramid and contributes to the championship title SIXTH richest competition in Europe.

The Premier League provides 94,000 jobs and pays £4 billion a year in tax revenue for the country. And remember: it’s played in Newcastle and Nottingham, Burnley and Brighton. It’s not just flashy old London Town.

Moreover, international fans follow not just one team, but the entire competition, because it is an exciting, unpredictable competition, with over a century of tradition and history.

The Premier League has competition from the Champions League and, to some extent, the NFL. It means we can compete for the biggest stars that children can see on their club pitch and dream of.

This legislation would make England the first major country to enforce a regulator.

So by common consent we have the best competition in the world, played in some of the best stadiums, but we want to risk that. Why?

‘We need another level of regulation, like a hole in the head’

I have heard supporters say that a regulator would not drive away investment or damage the competitive nature of the Premier League, but where is the evidence for that?

All we know is that a regulator is adding a new level of red tape to a game that used to be simple. Football has certainly had enough of people interfering. Some recent rule changes have baffled fans.

Good luck trying to decipher what is and isn’t a handball these days. We need another level of regulation, like a hole in the head.

We have been leading in the football world for many years. But it’s not guaranteed that this will last forever.

UEFA and FIFA are always trying to get a bigger piece of the football pie and if they had their way, the domestic leagues would just be cannon fodder for their own.

There are broken regulators everywhere you look and if you can find one that has actually improved our daily lives, you are a better man or woman than me.

Football. We are good at it. We are the envy of the world, with Latvian fans cheering on Liverpool, Manchurians supporting Manchester City, Luton fans in Liberia and Bulgarians loving Brighton.

If ever there was an own goal, this is definitely it.

GEORDIES are the most abusive Premier League football fans, a survey has found.

Supporters of Saudi Arabia-backed Newcastle United used a swear word in half of posts on fan forums, while one in three comments were insults about their team.

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They were 65 times more likely to drop F and C bombs during conversations about their side than Bournemouth fans, who were mentioned the most politely.

West London clubs Brentford and Fulham were ranked second and third best.

Champions Manchester City finished 13th in mid-table, with 26 percent of social media posts criticizing Pep Guardiola’s side – even during last season’s treble-winning campaign.

West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Everton fans completed the bottom four, an analysis of fans’ social media last season by ticketing platform SeatPick showed.

A spokesperson for SeatPick said: “The data paints a vivid picture of Newcastle United supporters as a passionate and vocal bunch.

“There is a disconnect between the relative success of the team and the fiery emotions displayed by the supporters.

“The data underlines the importance of social media platforms as a sounding board for fan sentiment.

“It is a space where emotions, both positive and negative, find an outlet and offer a glimpse into the psyche of the supporters.

“It is worth considering that fans from the North appear to be more offensive than fans from the South, with Bournemouth and Brentford having the most respectful fan bases.”

EMMA PATON shot another arrow through the hearts of her adoring fans as the Sky Sports presenter opted for leather trousers on the oche.

The versatile broadcaster had one viewer ‘stand and applaud’ as she performed for Night 8 of the Premier League Darts in Ireland.

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She reached Dublin Top among her admirers thanks to a smart but distinctive look as superstars such as Luke Littler battled it out.

Darts enthusiasts went from nerd to cheeky when they swapped talk of feather tips for leather jokes about Paton’s outfit.

“WOW WOW!!!!!! Emma Paton looks absolutely gorgeous and incredible as usual in leather pants!!!!” was a typical judgment from viewers.

The 30-year-old has even received light-hearted marriage proposals online, helped by her cheerful smile and sleek fashion.

And as the Premier League continues to grow in popularity, it has been dubbed ‘incredible’ and ‘absolutely brilliant’.

Many fans would give a pitcher’s arm or leg to see her on their screens more often.

But Paton is already a multi-sport presenter and has also featured in Sky Sports News’ transfer deadline day coverage, WWE and tennis at the US Open.

That’s after seven years in a more backroom role as a Sky journalist, before switching to presenting in 2019.

Now she is welcomed by many dart fans as joyfully as a nine-darter.

“Standing and clapping when Emma Paton is on my screen,” said one enthusiast on Thursday evening.

And her social media following continues to rise, rising from 3,000 on Instagram alone in the past month to 185,000.

Yes, that’s right – in terms of thousands of fans, she has done better than “ONE-HUNDRED-AND-EIGHTY”!

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THREE clubs are ready to fight for Ivan Toney as the player plans an exit for Brentford.

A disastrous run of form has left the Bees just five points above the relegation zone.

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With Brentford perilously close to the bottom three, three sides are vying to get into pole position to land the striker this summer.

SunSport understands that Tottenham, Chelsea and West Ham have all expressed interest in signing the 28-year-old.

It comes after Arsenal, who were previously linked with Toney, cooled their interest.

As for Chelsea, the West Londoners know they have to sell before they can buy or risk breaking profit and sustainability rules.

Our source said: “If Brentford drop out of the Premier League, which now seems a real possibility, there will be a race to sign Ivan Toney.

“That’s why some clubs are already taking steps to try to get into pole position and sign the player.”

“It is understood that Chelsea and Spurs both need a number nine and Toney would suit both clubs, but West Ham are now also interested.

“The club believes Toney can be a real statement signer and take the team to the next level.

“West Ham are crying out for a striker who can help turn a good side into one that can really challenge for the Champions League.

“Arsenal are less interested now. Mikel Arteta has a system and a way of playing and he doesn’t think a conventional number nine like Ivan Toney is what they need.”

SunSport can also reveal that Toney is ‘open-minded’ about remaining in the capital after making it clear to his advisers that he does not want to leave the Premier League.

Our source added: “Clubs in Italy and Spain have been following Toney for ages. He is one of the most sought after players in Europe.

“But Ivan is not really interested in moving abroad. He sees his future in the Premier League.

“His priority is to score the goals that save Brentford and cement his way into the England squad.

“But after that there is a general acceptance that he will move on and start at a new club in the Premier League next season.

“It will be a new start and, at the age of 28, the biggest step of his career.”

FORMER Tottenham star Darren Bent has admitted he would rather see Arsenal win the Premier League than see England triumph at the 2024 European Championship.

The former striker, 40, became Spurs’ record signing when he signed from Charlton in a £16.5million contract in 2007.

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Despite playing for the Lilywhites for two years, Bent remains a loyal Gooner.

During talkSPORT, Bent was asked by co-host Andy Goldstein whether he would prefer Prem or Euro 2024 glory later this year.

He replied emphatically: “As an Arsenal fan I want the league. I want Arsenal above all else.”

Goldstein, 50, then replied: “You don’t want FA Cup – Arsenal, Euros – England?”

Bent admitted it would be close but appeared to be heading towards the European Championship, although he stressed: “Champions League, Premier League above all.”

He then left Goldstein stunned by claiming that even a domestic cup double would have done it for him at the European Championship.

The 12-cap former England striker added: “FA Cup and League Cup. No, I’m not kidding. FA Cup, League Cup. Arsenal.”

After his opinion was called “crazy,” Bent continued, “As a fan, I’m club over country.”

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Bent played 79 times for Tottenham, scoring 25 goals and providing seven assists.

After falling down the pecking order at White Hart Lane, he moved to Sunderland in 2009.

He scored four goals in twelve England caps, including three in the European Championship qualifiers, but never earned a call-up to a major tournament with the Three Lions.

Bent had already shown his love for Arsenal over former club Tottenham this season.

Ahead of September’s North London derby, he picked eleven Arsenal players in a combined XI.

This meant Gabriel Jesus stunningly got the nod over Son Heung-min, although the South Korean made Bent eat his words by scoring twice in the 2-2 draw.

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Nottingham Forest have been given a four-point deduction after breaching the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs).

Forest were referred to an independent committee in January after the club reported losses that exceeded the allowed amount during the three-year reporting cycle ending in the 2022-2023 season.

Under the guidelines, they could have been fined or deducted points for the breach, and their four-point deduction now sees them drop to 18th in the Premier League.

They are the second Premier League team this season to have points deducted for a PSR breach after Everton gained 10 points in November. This was later reduced to six points after a three-day appeal. Everton could face a second points deduction this season after being accused, along with Forest, of a further breach of PSR rules in January.

Forest now has seven days to indicate whether it plans to appeal the sanction.

The Premier League has set May 24 as a reserve date for any appeal after the end of the season on May 19. This date is before the league’s annual general meeting.

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What did the Premier League say?

A statement said: “An independent committee has made an immediate deduction of four points to Nottingham Forest FC for breaching the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs) for the period ending the 2022/2023 season.

“Nottingham Forest was referred to an independent committee on January 15 after the club admitted it had exceeded the relevant PSR threshold of £61 million by £34.5 million.

“The threshold was lower than £105 million because the club spent two seasons of the assessment period in the EFL Championship. The case was dealt with in accordance with the new Premier League rules, which provide an accelerated timetable for the resolution of PSR matters in the same season in which the complaint is made.

“The independent commission determined the sanction following a two-day hearing this month, during which the club was given the opportunity to set out a range of mitigating factors.

“The committee found that the club had shown ‘exceptional cooperation’ in its dealings with the Premier League throughout the process.”

What did Bos say?

A club statement said: “Nottingham Forest is extremely disappointed with the committee’s decision to impose a four-point sanction on the club, which must be implemented with immediate effect.”

“We were extremely appalled by the tone and content of the Premier League’s submissions to the committee,” it added. “After months of involvement in the Premier League and exceptional cooperation throughout, this was unexpected and has damaged the confidence we had in the Premier League.”

Club statement.

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) March 18, 2024

The club also called the Premier League’s initial starting point for an eight-point sanction “completely disproportionate” and pointed to a number of “unique circumstances” involved and the mitigation measures they put forward.

They also said that the committee’s decision “raises concerns for all aspiring clubs” and that the rationale that clubs should only invest after making a profit from the development of their players “destroys mobility in the football pyramid” and will lead to “the stagnation of our national game.”

“We believe that the high level of cooperation shown by the club during this process, which has been confirmed and recorded in the committee’s decision, was not reciprocated by the Premier League,” the statement said.

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How did we get here?

Forest were referred to the committee by the Premier League in January over the alleged breach, which relates to the PSR calculation for the three-year reporting period ending with the 2022-2023 season.

Forest stated that they would “continue to cooperate fully with the Premier League on this matter and are confident of a quick and fair resolution”.

Forest have signed more than 40 players since securing promotion in May 2022, with owner Evangelos Marinakis approving a transfer fee of around £250 million ($318 million) to help the club establish itself in the top flight.

Forest believed they had worked within the rules when it came to the losses allowed, with much of the issue centering on the sale of Brennan Johnson to Tottenham Hotspur.

The club’s argument – which they put forward in talks with the Premier League – was that they could have sold Johnson earlier in the window, but at that point this would have meant accepting a significantly lower price. His sale did not go through until September 1, long after the financial year had ended, for £47.5 million.

New guidelines have been introduced aimed at accelerating PSR decisions to ensure that fundamental regulatory breaches are addressed in a timely manner so that penalties, such as points deductions, can be imposed in the same season in which charges are brought.

All clubs were required to submit their 2022-2023 accounts by December 31 – instead of in March as previously – with any breaches and subsequent charges confirmed a fortnight later.

What are rules for profitability and sustainability?

All Premier League clubs are assessed every year on their compliance with the league’s profitability and sustainability rules.

Their compliance with these rules will be assessed against the club’s PSR calculation, which is the total of the adjusted pre-tax income for the relevant assessment period.

Under the PSR, clubs can lose a maximum of £105 million over three seasons (or £35 million per season), but certain costs can be deducted, such as investments in youth development, infrastructure, community and women’s football.

There were also specific allowances related to COVID and to help clubs the league combined the two pandemic-affected seasons into one, changing the accounting period from three years to four years.

Forest’s allowable losses are lower than the £105 million limit because the club played in the Football League for part of the period under review. Their top fee is instead £61m, which equates to £13m for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons when they were in the Championship, plus £35m for last season, their first return to the top flight.

Have there been more cases like this?

Forest are only the third club to face such action, following Everton’s two separate breaches and subsequent points deductions this season, while Manchester City faced more than 100 charges last February.

The outcome of City’s case has not yet been announced The Athletics report that it will likely take quite some time before an appealable verdict is reached.

Last year, Chelsea’s new owners self-reported incomplete financial information relating to transactions that took place during the stewardship of the previous owner, Roman Abramovich, between 2012 and 2019.

European governing body UEFA has fined them €10 million for the historic breach in July, while the Premier League and English FA continue to investigate.

There have been several precedents in the English Football League in recent years, but a penalty involving PSR breaches at the top flight of English football was unprecedented before Everton.

Only twice in the history of the Premier League has a club been awarded a point penalty.

Middlesbrough were given three points for not playing a match in the 1996-97 season, while Portsmouth were given a nine-point penalty in January of the 2009-10 season after going into administration.

‘Frustration and disappointment for Forest’

Analysis by Nottingham Forest correspondent Paul Taylor

There is frustration and disappointment at Nottingham Forest as they find themselves in the Premier League relegation zone with a four-point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules.

And this weekend it was suggested from the club that four points would be the penalty they would consider appealing. They have 14 days to appeal, so they have time to digest the verdict before rushing to a decision. But it’s likely they will.

The fact that he drops them in the bottom three will rub a little extra salt in the wound.

As does the fact that throughout the process Forest feel that they have done their utmost to work with the Premier League – to accept that they have broken the rules, but to explain what they believe were extenuating circumstances – which largely revolved around sales. by Brennan Johnson, late in the window.

But amid the frustration – at a time when Forest have felt badly hit by a number of controversial refereeing decisions – there will also be an insight that the punishment could perhaps have been harsher.

And despite the possibility of an appeal, Forest at least now knows what they are dealing with as they look to secure a third season of top-flight football under Nuno Espirito Santo.

(Top photo: Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Nottingham Forest have been hit with a four-point deduction after breaching the Premier League’s winning and sustainability rules.

The penalty sees Forest drop into the relegation zone as they now sit 18th in the Premier League with 21 points, one point behind Luton in 17th. An appeal will likely follow.

The Premier League has claimed that the club exceeded the PSR threshold by as much as £34.5 million in the relevant period.

Forest were accused of breaching spending rules in January 2024, along with fellow Premier League side Everton, with the Toffees receiving a 10-point deduction earlier this season.

That penalty was later reduced to six points, but Forest have now suffered a similar fate at a crucial point in the campaign.

Forest published a statement on Monday outlining that they were ‘disappointed’ with the decision to hand out a points penalty, although they did say it was for the integrity of the competition to hand out the penalty ‘in the same season in which they are imposed. ‘.

It added: ‘We were extremely appalled by the tone and content of the Premier League’s submissions to the Commission.

‘After months of involvement in the Premier League and exceptional cooperation throughout, this was unexpected and has damaged the confidence we had in the Premier League.

‘For the Premier League to require an eight-point sanction as a starting point was completely disproportionate compared to the nine points prescribed by their own rules for insolvency.

‘We were also surprised that the Premier League did not take into account the club’s unique circumstances and their mitigation at all. In circumstances where this approach is adopted by future PSR committees, it would make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for newly promoted clubs without parachute payments to compete, undermining the integrity and competitiveness of the Premier League.”

The statement also referred to a deal to sell Brennan Johnson to Tottenham, which would be a key part of their defense for breaching spending rules in the relevant period.

Because FFP calculations are made over a three-year period ending June 30, the Johnson deal will count towards the 2021-24 settlement rather than 2020-23 as it was completed on deadline day.

Clubs are allowed to incur financial losses of £105 million over three years, with Forest reporting an annual loss of £45.6 million in their latest accounts.

Another complication comes from Forest being a Premier League team for only one of those three seasons; Championship clubs have losses of up to £13m per season, meaning their cap was effectively £61m.

Forest say they could have sold Johnson to Brentford in June for around £30m, which would have put them in a healthier financial position for the 2020-2023 period, but almost £20m out of pocket in total.

For the club’s sustainability, they claim that accepting almost £50 million for Johnson in August was better than £30 million earlier in the summer.

The statement continued: ‘Even after missing the PSR reporting deadline, the Club still took steps to ensure that Brennan Johnson was sold before the end of the transfer window. That was a clear demonstration of our respect and support for PSR.

‘The Commission’s decision raises questions that are important for all aspiring clubs. The player transfer market is a highly specialized trading environment that cannot be compared to the sale of normal products and services.

‘There will be cases where a player transfer cannot be completed in the first half of a transfer window and only at the end of that period. This should not be a reason for condemning a club. That this is not recognized by the Commission or the Premier League should be a matter of great concern to all fans of our national football.

‘Of wider concern to all aspiring clubs is the worrying effect this decision will have on the operation of the player trading model. This is the only model that allows clubs outside the small group at the top of the Premier League to realistically move up the football pyramid.”

Forest’s response to the punishment concluded with the insinuation that ‘the high level of cooperation’ they had shown throughout the process had not been ‘reciprocated’ by the league.

Prior to the announcement, Forest were just three points ahead of Luton in 18th, with the Hatters earning a late 1-1 draw with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side on Saturday to stay within striking distance, although they now move Forest to 17th took place. .

A hearing took place to decide what punishment the club faced on Thursday and Friday last week, ahead of Saturday’s match.

Forest’s spending since returning to the English top flight in early 2022-23 has been extremely lavish.

From that summer onwards, no less 42 players have come to the City Ground for more than £250 million.

Asked about the upcoming ruling after Saturday’s clash with Luton, Espirito Santo said the club would ‘keep going and fighting’ in a bid to overcome defeat.

The indictment against Manchester City in February for 115 alleged infringements is an ongoing case.

ASTON VILLA travel to West Ham for a big Premier League match this afternoon.

The Villans will look to cement their place in the top-4, while the Hammers will look to continue their good form and put further pressure on teams in European spots.

• Kick-off time: 2:00 PM GMT
• TV/stream: Not available to watch in the UK

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NEWCASTLE legend Lee Clark has revealed his ‘ultimate dream’ would be to see his son Bobby Clark play for the North East club.

19-year-old midfielder Bobby, who was part of the Magpies’ youth team until 2021, made his Liverpool debut in 2022 but has only become a regular in recent months.

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Most notably, he was one of the Reds’ academy players who came off the bench in their Carabao Cup win over Chelsea at Wembley last month.

And while his father, Lee, is thrilled with his son’s success, he admits he would love to see his son move to St James’ Park.

Speaking about the Not a Tippy Tappy Football podcasthe said: “Absolutely [he would like Bobby to play for Newcastle]. I don’t know how many fathers and sons have done it for the club.

“I was lucky enough to do it 265 times. Who knows, he might have to do an Alan Shearer and come back.

“But yes, that would be my ultimate dream. Absolutely.”

Lee, 51, who played in the same position as his son, was born and raised in the North East before making 265 appearances for Newcastle between 1990 and 2006.

He won the First Division in 1993 and was part of Kevin Keegan’s famous side called “The Entertainers”.

Lee eventually left for rivals Sunderland in 1997, but after a spell at Fulham he returned to Newcastle in 2005 for another season with the club.

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Meanwhile, teenage star Bobby made Liverpool history earlier this week by scoring his first goal for the club in a 6-1 Europa League win over Sparta Prague.

The goal, which came in the second leg of a last-16 tie which Klopp’s men won 11-2, makes him the youngest Liverpool player to score in European competition.

He broke Trent Alexander-Arnold’s record in 2017.

And Bobby could be used regularly towards the end of the season as Klopp’s side are plagued by injuries.

Midfielders Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones are both currently unavailable, while Alexander-Arnold is also sidelined.

Bobby suffered a blow during the win over Sparta Prague but Klopp has revealed it is not serious.

Ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United, the Liverpool manager said: “Bobby was feeling much better.

“That was uncomfortable, he got a blow there, a little swelling and that’s why [we had] feeling like it might be something more serious, but it’s not, so he’s doing well.”

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MANCHESTER UNITED will reportedly be fined £10 million each time they miss out on Champions League qualification under a new sponsorship package.

The Red Devils have released their latest financial figures and they show that despite their disappointments on the pitch, they are on the verge of breaking annual revenue records.

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They also showed that, largely as a result of United’s participation in the Champions League, staff costs at Old Trafford have increased.

Their commercial revenues fell by £6.9 million, as did sponsorship revenues, which fell by 22 percent.

However, retail saw a growth of 15.2 percent following United’s new £90 million kit deal with Adidas and thanks to sales from their megastore.

Now more details about that deal have emerged in the financial reports – and failure to reach the Champions League will prove costly if a clause is included.

They come in from next year and differ from the existing deal which saw United only penalized if they failed to qualify for the competition for two seasons in a row.

That original contract with Adidas expires in 2025.

The new package adds another ten years, but there are several updated conditions.

A maximum bonus of £4.4 million will be paid to the club each season if their men’s or women’s team wins “the Premier League or Women’s Super League, FA Cup or continental competitions respectively”.

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United had never been hit by the punishment that was previously part of the original agreement, as they never missed the Champions League for two years.

But if they had done so, it would have resulted in a 30 percent deduction, which would have been worth around £22 million.

The half-yearly financial report confirms: “As a result of the qualification of the Men’s First Team for the 2023/24 Champions League, no deductions are due under the original term.

“Under the extended term, this clause has been amended to provide that a deduction of £10 million will be made for each year of non-participation in the UEFA Champions League.”

That means they could miss out on a mega £100m if they don’t qualify over the life of the contract.

Meanwhile, United had a huge wage bill last season totaling £384.1 million and over the current period staff costs have increased by £95.1 million, which is mainly due to the fact that they play in UEFA’s top league and not in the Europa League.

The Red Devils announced a club record turnover of £648.4 million 12 months ago, but still managed to make a loss of £42.1 million.

They are predicted to break that figure with a total expected fee of between £635 million and £665 million, while these figures also show a sum of £156 million being poured into the club’s coffers.

That was after Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought 27.7 percent of the club in a deal worth £1.03 billion.

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