THE STIRRER HEADS TO PARLIAMENT

12-10-2006

Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg is heading to parliament today plotting revolution. He'll be showing MPs his film Manchester Disunited And Other Football Feuds, and calling for the overthrow of the FA andPremier League.

The documentary highlights what Goldberg regards as the lack of leadership at the top of the sport, which has allowed - amongst other things - the American billionaire Malcolm Glazer to saddle Manchester United with debts of £660 million.

He traces the overweening power of money in the sport to the creation of the Premier League, and the development of PLC's to run clubs.

The timing of the screening is interesting. Lord Burns has just published a report into the game's governance, while another peer Lord Stevens is examining football's bung culture, so there's a clear political dimension these days.

Goldberg's film highlights positive alternatives, including the formation of fan-led breakaway clubs such as FC United and AFC Wimbledon. Europe's champion club Barcelona is also a supporter-owned democracy.

The film-maker said: “20 years ago when I was writing for fanzines, people laughed when we talked of a vision of supporters actually owning and running the clubs they supported. Now, that's become a reality.

“In another decade, who's to say that football's current money-mad obsession won't have been replaced by a more community based vision? To achieve that, we've got to radically change the way the whole sport is run - and if that means overthrowing the FA and Premier League, then so be it.”

The screening is being sponsored by Birmingham MP John Hemming, and is open to the public. It starts at 3pm in the Wilson Room, Portcullis House.