Football can manage without Russian investment, says sport minister Nigel Huddleston

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston has called for a “more robust” approach to the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test and believes football can manage “perfectly well” without Russian investment.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich having all his UK assets frozen amid his alleged ties to Vladimir Putin, links the billionaire has denied but which Downing Street claims to have proven.

It has shone an uncomfortable light on the buyers of clubs, with Newcastle’s takeover by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund – which was controversial because of the country’s human rights record – still fresh in the memory.

A fan-led review, chaired by Conservative MP Tracey Crouch, indicated an independent regulator is needed to protect the future of key aspects of the English game, with Huddleston anticipating a formal response “soon”.

Appearing before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, Huddleston said: “We recognise and the Premier League recognise that the owners’ and directors’ test needs further work, it needs to be more robust.

“I think we’re at a turning point for English football. The fan-led review is pivotally important. We recognise there are failures in the structure and governance of English football.

“If it was all working perfectly we’d never have needed the fan-led review which will be pivotal because it will contain an independent regulator.

“That is a fundamental change in the structure and eco-system of English football. It will include further information and measures around the owners’ and directors’ test.”

Abramovich put Chelsea up for sale on March 2, which the Government will oversee as the Russian-Israeli is barred from profiting amid the sanctions