Introduction
The Osos Spurs Podcast presents an educational discussion on football ownership and how fans can gain more control over their clubs. The podcast features Mickey Peear, author of Football: The People’s Shame and a Britain’s Got Talent finalist. Peear explores a radical new model of football governance aimed at giving fans true ownership of their clubs and the wider football industry.
Motivation for Change
- Peear explains that he started writing his book in 2021 to examine the political journey of English football, which he believes is often overlooked.
- His research led him to develop a new theory: a collectively owned public service football model that operates without burdening taxpayers.
- He argues that football, as a cultural asset, should be owned by fans, not billionaires or corporations, and that the current system alienates supporters from the clubs they love.
A Radical Proposal for Collective Ownership
- Inspired by Germany’s 50+1 ownership rule, Peear proposes a more radical 90-10 split, where 90% of clubs are owned by their fans and 10% by international supporters.
- His vision includes eliminating billionaire ownership and nationalizing English football, but with fans—not the government—at the helm.
- He suggests removing intermediaries (billionaires, broadcasters, etc.) so that English football can sell itself directly to global fans, potentially generating billions in revenue.
Comparisons to Other Models
- Germany’s 50+1 Rule: This system allows clubs to be majority-owned by fans, preventing billionaire takeovers. Peear sees it as a starting point but believes England should go further.
- Argentina’s Model: Clubs with democratic ownership fight to maintain control and resist privatization.
- Public Commons Partnership: Inspired by cooperative business models in Spain, where corporations are owned by workers and the community.
Government vs. Fan Ownership
- Peear dismisses government-controlled football as an alternative, stating that transferring ownership from billionaires to politicians wouldn’t give fans real control.
- Instead, he advocates for a fan-led corporation with an independent constitution dictating how football is governed.
- Fans worldwide could pay a nominal membership fee (e.g., £1 per month), creating a sustainable revenue stream.
Broadcasting & Revenue Generation
- The next era of football broadcasting is shifting towards direct-to-consumer streaming (akin to Amazon).
- Peear suggests fans collectively own and operate the broadcasting rights, which could generate £24-30 billion annually—enough to sustain clubs and reinvest in grassroots football.
- He argues that the Premier League’s digital model should belong to fans, rather than private equity firms or state-backed owners.
The History of Football Privatization
Peear explains how football’s economic structure changed over time:
- Victorian Era (1880s-1900s): Football was protected as a community asset, with strict financial regulations.
- Rule 34: Prevented clubs from being run for profit.
- Wage caps and shared gate receipts ensured fairness.
- 1980s Deregulation: Privatization of football began, driven by figures like Irving Scholar (former Spurs chairman), who found loopholes to bypass Rule 34 and commercialize clubs.
- 1992 Premier League Formation:
- Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, and Manchester United led the breakaway from the Football League.
- Sky Sports, backed by Rupert Murdoch, secured exclusive broadcasting rights, concentrating wealth at the top.
- This transformed football into a commercialized product, benefiting a handful of clubs while harming competition.
Addressing Competitive Imbalance
- The Premier League is dominated by financial monopolies, making it nearly impossible for smaller clubs to succeed.
- Peear proposes:
- A regulated wage cap (with flexibility to sign marquee players outside the cap).
- Squad limits to prevent hoarding talent.
- Academy player quotas (e.g., two local players must start every match).
- Revenue-sharing mechanisms to reduce financial disparities.
- These changes would make the league more competitive, preventing a single team from dominating for decades.
Fan Ownership as a Political Movement
- Peear emphasizes that political intervention (via an Act of Parliament) is necessary to take back football.
- He argues that Brexit makes it legally easier to nationalize football in the UK (as EU competition laws no longer apply).
- The entire English football system could be purchased for £25-30 billion, less than the cost of government projects like Track and Trace (£37 billion).
A More Sustainable Football Model
- Football should be about community, not just profit.
- Investing in youth development, coaching, and grassroots football would improve the quality of English players.
- International fans could own a share in their favorite clubs, increasing global engagement and revenue.
- Reducing wage inflation and ensuring fairer distribution of talent would make football less predictable and more exciting.
A Call for Unity
- Peear is collaborating with various fan groups across clubs (e.g., Manchester United’s 1958, Spirit of Shankly, and Saudi Sportswashing Machine’s 1894 movement).
- A new fan-led football governance movement is in the works, with plans for a public launch in 2025.
- He encourages football fans to unite, regardless of club allegiance, rather than engaging in pointless debates over billionaire ownership.
Final Thoughts
- The podcast concludes with reflections on how modern football has lost its soul due to financial monopolization.
- Peear encourages fans to shift their focus from ownership squabbles to collective action.
- His book Football: The People’s Shame is available on Audible and Amazon, serving as a blueprint for fan-led ownership.
Key Takeaways
Football should be owned by fans, not billionaires.
This podcast presents a radical but achievable vision for taking back control of football, ensuring it remains the people's game, not the billionaires’ playground
We were publicly listed for a number of years. Fans could have bought the majority ,of shares. They didn't.
