Why did Premier League chairman resign? Gary Hoffman’s resignation reason explained
Many people are raising the question of why did Premier League chairman resign? In the last few weeks, Gary Hoffman, who only became a non-executive 18 months ago, has faced growing pressure to quit. An overview of the situation has been provided to all 20 Premier League clubs. In the next few days, he may make a statement regarding his departure.
Who is Gary Hoffman?
The Premier League chairmanship was handed to him in June 2020, before the start of the first UK-wide Coronavirus lockdown. He has been a lifelong Coventry City fan. Hoffman has a successful career in business and finance.
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He was a former Barclays executive who managed Visa Europe, ran the insurer Hastings, and now serves as the chairman of Monzo, a digital bank. He was also dragged into the debate over Project Big Picture, a joint plan led by Liverpool and Manchester United to decrease the number of Premier League teams to 18 while directing a share of top-flight earnings to the English Football League.
Why did Premier League chairman resign?
Mr. Hoffman’s expected exit follows weeks of criticism surrounding the agreement to allow a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s national wealth fund to purchase Newcastle United for £305 million. It comes at a vital moment for English football, with Tracey Crouch, the former sports minister, in charge of a comprehensive review expected to be revealed next week.
Ms. Crouch’s report will recommend the establishment of IREF (the Independent Regulator for English Football), with greater powers to supervise professional club ownership and governance.
Mr. Hoffman’s exit, as a business heavyweight who assisted keep Northern Rock surviving when it was nationalized during the 2008 financial crisis, will fuel claims that English football’s power brokers are incapable of self-regulation.
Given the Premier League teams’ exhibition of muscle-flexing strength, which has predicted his exit, it is also likely to raise worries about the desire for capable successors. Mr. Hoffman, according to some top figures in the game, is being judged harshly for the Newcastle arrangement, and the League’s board is in a tough situation.
Criticisms from various clubs
According to reports last month, Mr. Hoffman would face a vote of no confidence in the wake of the Magpies’ takeover. His impending departure comes as the Premier League is on the verge of obtaining record sums from the sale of its US television rights, and its overall finances are in good shape despite the epidemic.
Nonetheless, several clubs have complained that they should have been brought more up-to-date on the development of the prolonged Newcastle discussions. Some club officials believe the purchase should have been halted due to Saudi Arabia’s dismal human rights record.
The Premier League immediately ignored the clubs’ complaints, citing confidentiality limitations during meetings with the group, which included banker Amanda Staveley and Jamie Reuben, a member of the wealthy property-owning family.
A meeting of the 20 clubs last month resulted in a unanimous decision to restrict related party transactions, thus prohibiting Newcastle from entering into sponsorship arrangements with corporations tied to the Saudi government or the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Only Newcastle voted against the resolution, while Manchester City, which is backed by members of Abu Dhabi’s royal family, did not.
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