Simon Jordan accuses Andy Burnham of using sport 'for political gain’ as PM seeks to end ‘outdated’ football beer ban

Simon Jordan accuses Andy Burnham of using sport 'for political gain’ as PM seeks to end ‘outdated’ football beer ban

Simon Jordan has accused Andy Burnham of “leveraging sport for political gain” as the Prime Minister seeks to overturn a ban on alcohol in football stands. Speaking to GB News, the former Crystal Palace owner and broadcaster described the plans as “populist politics”. Mr Burnham is seeking to overturn the ban, which covers the top five tiers of English football, from the Premier League down to the National League and was enacted to tackle football hooliganism. “I don't think it is fair for football fans to be singled out in that way,” the Prime Minister and keen Everton fan said in New York. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say “I think that legislation dates to an era when football was very different and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.” Reacting to the news, Mr Jordan said: “Whenever I look at what politicians do, I try to work out why they're doing it, what's behind it, what's the motivation, what's the end game?” “This, to me, smacks of some of the nonsense that Corbyn trotted out 15 years ago when he talked about football clubs, when they changed hands, should automatically pass on 10 per cent to the supporters as a mechanism. “This is just populist policies,” the entrepreneur said. “I intensely dislike sports being used. As much as I understand that geopolitics involves sport, to some extent I dislike it being leveraged for gain and political capital. “This feels like a politician seeking to gain currency with football fans, who are voters, without really thinking through the sentiments behind it.” “I think it's nice for Andy to sit in the corporate seats at Everton with his wife and remark about how much he loves football,” Mr Jordan continued. However, he said that the Prime Minister did not understand the nature of the game and why the ban was introduced. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Andy Burnham set to lift beer ban in football stands as he slams unfair 'singling out' of fans Andy Burnham faces Labour revolt as rural MPs