THE government says it remains “absolutely committed” to introducing a new independent football regulator.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has told regulators there is “too much bureaucracy” which is making it “too slow to get things done” across Britain, creating fears the new football watchdog could be scrapped as part of a wider commitment to cut red tape.

The independent football regulator’s creation is at the heart of the Football Governance Bill currently working its way through Parliament, and today a government spokesperson insisted that process would continue.

“We are absolutely committed to introducing an independent football regulator to put fans back at the heart of the game,” they said.

“Ministers have been consistently clear that the Bill, which continues to progress through Parliament, will introduce a light touch set of rules to improve the sustainability of clubs and help ensure the game continues to thrive in communities for generations to come.”

The regulator is set to license clubs in the top five tiers of the English men’s game, with its key remit being to ensure clubs are sustainably run and accountable to their fans.

It is also set to be given “backstop” powers to impose a financial settlement between the Premier League and the EFL, with the leagues still unable to agree one amongst themselves.