FA Chair Greg Dyke "backed criticism of football clubs that ban media outlets, but admitted that he is powerless to stop them," according to Kevin Rawlinson of the London GUARDIAN. Dyke wrote National Union of Journalists General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet addressing the concerns she laid out in a letter to him about the “worrying trend” of banning journalists. Dyke, who is a former director general of the BBC, said, "As a former journalist, censorship of the media is an issue about which I have strong personal views, and I agree with much of what you say." But he said that, while he shared her concerns about the increasingly prevalent practice, the matter was “not within the power” of the FA. Dyke’s response comes as the BBC announced a boycott of Scottish Championship side Rangers’ home games after one of its journalists -- as well as another from the Times and Herald -- "was banned from Ibrox stadium." It follows reports that the Daily Mirror "had entered into a commercial relationships" with Newcastle and Sports Direct, the clothing chain founded by the Newcastle Owner Mike Ashley. The Mirror "was the only newspaper invited to the announcement of the club’s new manager, Steve McClaren." Dyke said that "it is up to the club to decide its own
engagement policy with the media" (GUARDIAN, 8/5).
