Terms of reference of the Review of the Future of Women’s
Football which will focus on 3 key themes.
Call for evidence now open
We’ve opened a call for evidence focussing on the 3 themes of the
review:
-
Audience and growth
-
Commercial and broadcasting
-
Structures and governance
Respond to
the call for evidence
The Future of Women’s Football Review is a unique opportunity to
develop an exciting and deliverable vision for the game, paving
the way for generations of girls to come. Thank you for your
engagement and input – your contribution is very valuable to us.
The deadline for responses is 11.59pm on Tuesday 1 November.
Background
The Fan Led Review of Football Governance, conducted in 2021,
recommended that ‘given the many, but interconnected, issues
affecting a meaningful future for women’s football needing to be
addressed and resolved successfully, the future of women’s
football should receive its own dedicated review’. It stated that
‘There is huge potential for the game to grow further, but to
make this a reality there needs to be serious investment in
women’s football, in its finances, in its infrastructure, and in
the administration of the game’.
The UK government has therefore initiated a Review of the Future
of Women’s Football. This review will not focus on elements of
the women’s game that are shared with the Fan Led Review, such as
club heritage, owners’ and directors’ tests, financial
sustainability of clubs and independent regulation, as the
outcomes of the Fan Led Review will apply to women’s football in
the same way.
Future of Women’s Football review key themes
-
Audience and growth - Assess the potential
audience reach and growth of the game by considering the
value and visibility of women’s and girl’s football in
England, including the potential to grow the fanbase for
women’s football for the future of the game and whether
current growth still supports home-grown talent and can be
achieved without overstretching infrastructure.
-
Commercial and broadcasting - Examine the
financial health of the game, its financial sustainability
for the long term including: exploring commercial
opportunities and ways to support the commercialisation of
the women’s game; broadcast revenue opportunities; and the
sponsorship of women’s football
-
Structures and governance - Examine the
structures within women’s football, including affiliation
with men’s teams, prize money, the need for women’s football
to adhere to the administrative requirements of the men’s
game; assess the adequacy, quality, accessibility, and
prevalence of the facilities available for women’s and girl’s
football for the future growth and sustainability of the
game.
Terms of Reference
The Chair of the Review will be supported in the evidence
gathering and analysis by senior officials from the Department
for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the Football
Association. The Chair will also utilise senior DCMS officials to
test findings and review recommendations.
An informal panel of industry experts will also support the
Review team in analysing evidence and developing recommendations.
Based on the evidence provided, the Review team will hold up to
two expert sessions on each of the topics, with stakeholders from
the game providing further evidence. The Chair will gather
evidence, ask for further information from contributors and
develop recommendations to be provided in a full report to the
Secretary of State for DCMS.
The Future of Women’s Football review will:
- Assess the potential audience reach and growth of the game by
considering the value and visibility of women’s and girl’s
football in England, including the potential to grow the fanbase
for women’s football for the future of the game and whether
current growth still supports home-grown talent and can be
achieved without overstretching infrastructure
- Examine the financial health of the game, its financial
sustainability for the long term including: exploring commercial
opportunities and ways to support the commercialisation of the
women’s game; broadcast revenue opportunities; and the
sponsorship of women’s football
- Examine the structures within women’s football, including
affiliation with men’s teams, prize money, the need for women’s
football to adhere to the administrative requirements of the
men’s game; assess the adequacy, quality, accessibility, and
prevalence of the facilities available for women’s and girl’s
football for the future growth and sustainability of the game
Letter of Appointment from
DCMS Secretary of State to the Chair of the review of the Future
of Women’s Football
