TORY leader Kemi Badenoch has been accused of scoring an “own goal” over football’s independent regulator.

Badenoch described the regulator as a “waste of money” on the Telegraph’s Daily T podcast on Monday.

The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), which has long pushed for an independent regulator, said in a statement yesterday: “It’s curious that Kemi Badenoch now opposes the regulator, as we have seen correspondence she sent to a constituent a couple of years ago when she said ‘I support these reforms’. This is what’s known in football as an own goal, Kemi.

“We’d also remind her that the Football Governance Bill was a Conservative Party proposal, which featured in their last manifesto, and many of her colleagues did excellent work on the Bill. She’s throwing that on the scrap heap to gain favour with a few rich club owners.

“The Premier League is currently spending around £50 million per season on legal fees fighting cases which could be handled by a regulator costing one-fifth of that, while protecting a lot more clubs. And football will cover the costs, this isn’t coming out of the public purse.

“She claims to have spoken to people in the ‘industry’ — we prefer to call it the game — but that doesn’t appear to include the EFL who represent 72 clubs and back the regulator. Can Kemi let everyone know exactly who she’s spoken to in football?

“She has certainly not spoken to the FSA or our supporter groups who are right behind this legislation which puts a block on domestic involvement in a European Super League, offers more protection to our clubs, and gives supporters a greater say in the game.”

Badenoch had said on Monday: “I think a football regulator is going to be a waste of money. When I speak to people in the industry, they don’t think it’s going to work. So, why are we doing it?”

Badenoch’s official spokesperson has been contacted for a response to the FSA statement.

The Football Governance Bill, which has the creation of the regulator at its heart, was reintroduced to Parliament by the new Labour government after it failed to pass before former prime minister Rishi Sunak called last July’s general election.

The regulator has the backing of the EFL but the Premier League’s chief executive Richard Masters fears it could have unintended consequences and risks making the league less competitive.

Fair Game, a group which supports the introduction of a regulator, also criticised Badenoch’s comments.

“Kemi Badenoch’s misguided assertion that an independent regulator for football would be a waste of money shows that she doesn’t understand the Bill and doesn’t understand – or doesn’t care about – football clubs and their role in the local economy and community,” Fair Game’s chief executive Niall Couper said.

“Over half of our top 92 clubs are technically insolvent and our national game in its current guise is not sustainable. But a Football Governance Bill that gives the regulator power to ensure a fair financial flow and to reward well-run clubs will help safeguard its future.

“As well as helping to maintain vital community assets, this will safeguard the jobs of thousands of employees across the country, both at clubs and at suppliers and sponsors of those clubs.

“Beyond this, Kemi Badenoch seems to have forgotten that the regulator will be paid for by levies on clubs, with the initial government spend being recouped over time.

“This was originally a Tory Bill, and we call on all Conservatives not to lose sight of its importance now.”