Scudamore: The Premier League States Its (Lack Of) Intent
Scudamore: The Premier League States Its (Lack Of) Intent
By Mark on May 21, 2025 in Latest, Politics | 0 comments
I wrote in my previous article that the Premier League (EPL) statement on its "investigation" into what is beginning to be called "Scudgate" (sigh) posed more questions than answers. The following is what I meant (with the statement in bold):
Summary of a meeting of Premier League Clubs held on 19 May 2025. In the matter of media allegations regarding the Chief Executive.
This article will take a while. I haven't even got to the statement itself and already there's questions.
It was reported throughout last week that the EPL's "Audit and Remuneration (A&R) Committee", the body which has authorised Scudamore's salary and bonuses down the years, was to discuss the issue. The BBC website reported on May 16th that they "will meet on Monday to consider disciplinary action against Scudamore."
The Committee's independence, both professional and personal, from Scudamore was subjected to considerable scrutiny over the weekend. But yesterday (Monday) it was still being reported that the A&R Committee had "emerged" on May 14th as the disciplinary body.
Yet the 17 EPL member clubs (relegated and already promoted clubs not included) "emerged" at pretty much the last minute as the actual decision-making body, despite the A&R Committee being reported as part of the EPL's "due process" for holding Scudamore to account. If you didn't have complete faith in the good governance of the EPL, you might think they were making it up as they went along.
So, who authorised the process the EPL have thus far followed? Why did the A&R Committee "emerge" as the decision-making body and where from? And was that ever true?
Right…the statement itself…
The Chairman of the Premier League conducted an investigation into the allegations in a newspaper last week with regard to inappropriate email correspondence involving the Chief Executive and seen by a temporary PA. This investigation was carried out in conjunction with external specialist legal advisors specifically appointed for the role.
Peter McCormick, in whose name the statement was issued, is the EPL's acting non-executive chair, currently deputising for Anthony Fry who has been on sick leave since March. McCormick is the only EPL director who isn't…Richard Scudamore, which is laughably ridiculous.
McCormick has been involved from the day before day one of this affair, as Scudamore reportedly "followed board procedure" in informing him, the A&R Committee chair and the clubs on Saturday May 10th that Sunday Mirror newspaper allegations were on their way. So he, presumably, "appointed" the legal advisers.
However, we don't know who these "specialists" were, beyond reports that they are a "London law firm." We don't know their terms of reference, or their "specialisms" or why a matter of publicly-available,
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