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The English Premier League has gifted UK Members of Parliament tickets and hospitality to events such as the Brit Awards, cricket matches, and cup finals worth thousands of pounds in the past year.
The news comes with the threat of an independent regulator looming, which will have the power to fine clubs up to 10% of their turnover for failing to comply with financial regulations.
Prior to a vote on the bill, named the Football Governance Bill, the Premier League ramped up donations by spending more than £5,000 ($6,275/€5,850) per month in 2024, according to research by i.
The value of gifts this year has already surpassed the entirety of 2023 as £15,200 has been spent between January and March, compared to £11,180.15 last year.
The donations included giving Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer five tickets and hospitality to Arsenal’s Champions League match against Porto at Emirates Stadium last month, valued at £3,000.
Speaking about the bill, Starmer has said that he wants to protect the Premier League.
“I think they’ve got their concerns and we’re listening to what they have to say,” he told Sky News.
“[The bill] supports the lower league clubs to give them the financial sustainability that we need. But we must also protect the Premier League. We’ve got the best football in the world in this country, and I want to make sure that’s fully protected.”
In March, three Labour MPs were given tickets to the Brit Awards that included hospitality and totalled more than £7,000.
More than £4,000 worth of tickets and hospitality expenses were also paid for by the Premier League for MPs to attend the EFL Cup final at Wembley in February.
Suella Braverman, who was Home Secretary at the time, received two tickets plus hospitality last summer to watch the Ashes at the Oval worth £1,798.
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