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Answered by Brian Barwick

There are some points we must lay down regarding ownership. First and foremost is the fact that foreign ownership is no different to UK ownership. Just because someone isn’t born on these fair shores, that doesn’t mean to say they shouldn’t hold as much right to investing in a football club as anyone else. Essentially, it is because the Premier League is such a hugely attractive financial proposition that makes people are willing to invest their money into the game. It is the most exciting and most successful domestic league in the world, and we should all be hugely proud of the impact it is having on the game. The second point is that whoever owns football clubs has to undergo a rigorous cross-examination as part of our ‘Fit and Proper Persons Test’. Anyone who doesn’t fulfil the criteria won’t be able to play a part in the game. Similarly, if we have reservations about the true intentions of people coming into the game then we have the right to put a stop to any plans. It has worked well so far, and will continue to work well, because our investment in the game is to make sure we maintain its status at the top of the tree, so whether investors and owners are foreign or UK-based doesn’t really come into it.