The UK government has announced its plans to have an independent regulator for English football ahead of tomorrow’s release of the white paper on the game’s governance.
The independent regulator will cover the top five tiers of men’s football, with a parallel review of the women’s game underway.
The fan-led review of football, conducted by Tracey Crouch MP, called for the introduction of an independent regulator upon its conclusion in November 2021. The government endorsed the proposal in April 2022.
“This is a big day for football in this country and I am delighted the government has acted on the key strategic recommendations in my review,” Crouch said.
“The introduction of a new independent regulator of football will strengthen our incredible pyramid, giving investors, fans and communities confidence in the governance of our clubs, enabling them to thrive in the best leagues in the world.
“Football is nothing without its fans, and the announcement today will ensure they remain at its heart while it continues to grow at home and abroad.”
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The regulator will introduce a new licensing system for clubs down to the National League which will require them to demonstrate “sound financial business models and good corporate governance” before being allowed to compete.
It will also bring in a new test for potential and current owners and directors, something that has been under the control of the Premier League, EFL (for the Championship, League One and League Two) and FA (for the National League).
That new test will complement the existing ones administered by the Premier League and EFL. It will also have stronger due diligence on sources of wealth, plus a requirement for robust financial planning.
The government says this is “to protect clubs and their fans from unscrupulous owners”, following the “financial failings at Derby County, Bury and Macclesfield Town”.
The failed Super League project in April 2021 — which Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea attempted to join alongside other European clubs – came at the beginning of the fan-led review and only strengthened calls for an independent regulator.
The regulator will now have the power to block clubs from joining such breakaway leagues that do not meet predetermined criteria, which the government says “could include closed-shop competitions which harm the domestic game”.
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Fans will also have a larger involvement in the running of their teams, in order to stop owners from changing club names, badges and home shirts. Clubs will also have to have the regulator’s approval for any sale or relocation of their stadium.
The review into women’s football is due to be published later this year. It is set to cover the growth of the game at elite and grassroots levels, as well as the financial sustainability and structures. The FA announced last year that it is looking to create a stand-alone company to run the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship.
The Premier League said in a statement: “The publication of this White Paper is a significant moment for English football. The Premier League and its clubs will now carefully consider the Government’s plan for England to become the first major nation to make football a government-regulated industry.
“The Premier League, alongside the rest of English football, is a global success. We fully recognise that the passionate support of millions of football supporters is fundamental to our competition. We are proud that our success has been consistently shared for the benefit of the wider game, and of our clubs, who have a positive impact every day in their local communities.
“The Premier League recognises the case for change in football governance and continues to implement stronger and more independent regulation. We are strengthening our ownership rules and are already providing £1.6 billion in financial support to the wider game in this current three-year cycle.
“We appreciate the Government’s commitment to protect the Premier League’s continued success. It is vital that regulation does not damage the game fans love to watch in the deepest professional pyramid in the world, or its ability to attract investment and grow interest in our game.
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“We will now work constructively with stakeholders to ensure that the proposed Government regulator does not lead to any unintended consequences that could affect the Premier League’s position as the most-watched football league in the world, reduce its competitiveness or put the unrivalled levels of funding we provide at risk.
“The Premier League has already taken action to address many issues raised in the Fan-Led Review, and will work with Government and Parliamentarians on the next phase of the White Paper. We are committed to delivering a football-led solution to address key issues in the game – including financial distributions, financial controls and the football calendar – together with The FA and the EFL.”
Kevin Miles, CEO of the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) said: “The Football Supporters Association engaged in the fan-led review from day one and we warmly welcome the historic commitment from the government to introduce an independent regulator of English football.
“The football governance white paper clearly addresses our key concerns around ownership, rogue competitions and sustainability and, of course, we support any proposals that offer fans a greater voice in the running of their clubs.”
“We look forward to engaging with the government on the next steps.”
Alongside the white paper, the government will conduct a review into the visa system for elite footballers coming to England. This follows the UK’s departure from the European Union, which has seen stricter visa regulations implemented as a result.
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(Photo: Getty Images)
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