Independent Football Regulator “Proposals will be published to establish an independent regulator of English football.” ● Football is a defining part of our identity and central to British life, but its governance has not kept pace with development and reform is needed. That is why the Government is committed to reforming football governance to enable a long-term, sustainable future for the game. ● We are backing fans and supporting the game by committing to: o establishing a new independent regulator of professional football in England to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the game for the benefit of fans and local communities; o allowing the regulator to oversee a new licensing regime for professional football in England, to include governance at football clubs and financial regulation of the game; o ensuring owners and stewards are “fit and proper” people to manage football clubs prudently and sustainably; and o engaging fans when football clubs make important changes to a club’s heritage such as the name of the team, club logo or team strip. ● Our reforms will support the long-term future of the game, ensuring football clubs are run in a more financially sustainable way through new independent regulation, meaning fewer clubs in distress. ● We will publish a White Paper in the summer, which will set out further details. Key facts ●
The manifesto committed to review football governance to prevent another collapse like Bury FC in 2019. This review was taken forward by Tracey Crouch MP, who reported in November 2021. The Government’s response was published on 25 April 2022 and endorsed the ten strategic recommendations.
● Championship clubs are spending on average 120 per cent of turnover on wages and 14 out 20 Premier League clubs are above UEFA’s recommended limit of 70 per cent. Over the last ten years Championship clubs have lost over £2.5 billion. ●
The pandemic has caused English football clubs to lose over £2 billion and overall debt in the game is now over £5.3 billion. 130
