Journalists Union Urges FA To Stop Clubs From Banning Media Outlets

The U.K.'s National Union of Journalists has said in a letter to FA Chair Greg Dyke that English football clubs "must put an end to the 'worrying trend' of banning news outlets," according to Kevin Rawlinson of the London GUARDIAN. NUJ General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet wrote that fans "would be the losers if the 'unacceptable' practice" continues. Stanistreet wrote, "I am writing to you because of our concern over a worrying trend among football clubs to ban reporters and instead have their own hand-picked writers to peddle propaganda from the proprietor’s point of view." In her letter to Dyke, she said NUJ "believes censorship by football club owners is unacceptable; they should be held to account for the decisions they make and the way they run the club." Although the media rules "are primarily decided" by the Premier League and the Football League, Stanistreet wrote to Dyke "as she felt the issue must be of particular interest to him 'as a former journalist.'" The FA declined to comment (GUARDIAN, 7/29).