UK: Football Governance Bill
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The UK Government has introduced in Parliament a Football Governance Bill, under which an independent Football Regulator will be appointed.
The legislation will apply to the top five tiers of football in England and the Regulator will have the following powers:
- To improve the financial stability of clubs;
- To ensure financial resilience across the Leagues; and
- To safeguard English football’s heritage.
The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, stated that it was “a historic moment for football fans and make sure their voices are front and centre” and added:
“… for too long some clubs have been abused by unscrupulous owners who get away with financial mismanagement, which at worst can lead to complete collapse – as we saw in the upsetting cases of Bury and Macclesfield Town.”
The legislation follows a fan-led review, which concluded that a Regulator was necessary for the financial stability of the men’s professional game.
New club owners and directors will be subject to stronger tests designed to prevent them from putting their clubs out of business.
Furthermore, clubs will also be required to consult their fans on off-field matters, such as the club’s heritage and strategic direction.
Let us hope that the passage of the new Bill through Parliament is uneventful and swift for the benefit of the ‘beautiful game’ and all its stakeholders!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
