'It is NOT a matter for the government': May says she WON'T intervene over FA's sale of Wembley despite angry backlash from football fans

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Theresa May refused to intervene in the FA's sale of Wembley Stadium today - saying it was 'not a matter for the government'.

The Prime Minister insisted the mooted £600million deal was a 'private matter' despite a major backlash from fans and MPs. 

Mrs May effectively washed her hands of the issue at PMQs after Labour's Justin Madders asked whether she agreed that there was 'no need to sell off this iconic national asset'.

A dismissive premier replied: 'That is a decision for the owners of Wembley. It is a private matter.

'It is not a matter for the government.'

The Football Association is on the verge of selling Wembley Stadium for £600million in a move which has sparked a backlash from some fans

Theresa May was asked about the Wembley sale by Labour's Justin Madders (right) at the PMQs session today

Downing Street tried to play down the comments afterwards, insisting the PM still wanted the FA to take fans' views into account and not to rush the sale through.

It emerged last month that the headquarters of English football could be sold in a huge deal to Shahid Khan, the billionaire owner of theNFL's Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham Football Club.    

The Football Association said the huge windfall could be pumped into grassroots football, but many fans are uneasy at the thought of their national stadium being privately owned.

Plans for the sale have also sparked a scramble to reclaim the £40million taxpayers' money pumped into the development of the stadium and the £120million National Lottery funding.

Mr Khan, who is worth an estimated £5.2billion, has indicated he is prepared to pay more than £600million in cash and allow the FA to keep its hospitality business Club Wembley that is valued at a further £300million.

Mr Khan said the package would allow the FA to 'focus on its core mission of developing players'.   

There have been fears the English national football team may have to play home matches at other stadiums around the country while the NFL season is underway.

The FA is said to have around £100m in debt which it was due to pay off in 2024.

Local MP and Shadow International Trade Secretary Barry Gardiner is among those who have previously criticised the idea.

'Let's not see our National Football Stadium traded away in a backroom deal,' he said.

'Wembley Stadium is not just at the heart of our borough of Brent, it's at the heart of Britain.'

Fulham's billionaire owner Shahid Khan (pictured) is the man who wants to buy the national stadium. It is thought he will use it as the home of a UK-based American football team

Mrs May effectively washed her hands of the issue at PMQs (pictured) after Mr Madders asked whether she agreed that there was 'no need to sell off this iconic national asset'