- Government reaffirms commitment to independent regulator to
protect the future of English football for fans and communities
- New regulator will be standalone body, sitting outside
existing football authorities and government
- More detail on how it will fit with existing football
structures announced
The new independent regulator for men’s elite football will be
set up as a standalone body to make sure it is operationally
independent from the game and can adequately protect clubs’ and
fans’ interests.
Following a consultation process with clubs and the football
authorities, the Government is today confirming it is ‘minded’ to
set up the new regulator independent of any existing body, but
that all options remain under review. It will continue to work
with and engage industry and fan groups as these proposals
develop.
Despite the global success of English football, there have been
more than 60 instances of clubs being put into administration
since 1992, and the Government is stepping in to protect football
clubs as vital community assets.
The Government will make sure the regulator has a tightly defined
scope focused on four major areas: financial resources, suitable
owners, fan interests and approved competitions.
To minimise the risk of regulatory overlap and burden, and
reflecting the vital existing roles of the FA and the leagues in
the growth of English football, the regulator will adopt a
cooperative approach, collaborating and sharing information with
existing football bodies.
This will include identifying areas of responsibility,
coordinating rules and processes with industry bodies to minimise
gaps, duplication or conflicts, and to avoid confusion and burden
for clubs.
The Government’s preferred option on financial redistribution
between the leagues continues to be a football-led solution. The
financial health of clubs and their role as community assets is
of paramount importance and the government urges the football
authorities to come to a swift agreement in the interests of
clubs and fans.
The majority of respondents to the consultation support the
introduction of new backstop powers for the regulator, to be used
if a solution is not found in future financial redistribution
agreements. Work is ongoing on a backstop system that involves
targeted powers to intervene and facilitate an agreement on
financial redistribution as and when necessary.
Culture Secretary said:
Our football clubs are the lifeblood of communities and the envy
of leagues around the world. We want to see them protected for
fans now and in the future.
Today we outline our plans to make sure the new regulator for
football is independent, and remains true to its central mission
to safeguard these community assets and help the beautiful game
continue to grow in England.
Following the publication of its football governance white
paper in February, the Government has carried out a series of
detailed consultations with the football industry, gathering
further views from fans, clubs and the football authorities on
how the measures in the white paper should be implemented.
The Government’s consultation
response has now been published. Legislation to support the
introduction of an independent regulator of football governance
will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Today’s publication follows a letter from the Government
encouraging The FA, Premier League, EFL and PFA to formalise a
Technical Consultation Group, which would see them meet before
the summer transfer window, on a formal basis, every year to
agree immigration criteria for clubs’ access to players across
the globe.
The proposed group would help ensure English clubs have access to
the very best talent from a wider pool of international players.
It would also protect the prospects of homegrown players by
ensuring a significant number of playing minutes are given to
English players.
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