Liverpool supporters group Spirit of Shankly has welcomed the decision of UK government to back proposals for an independent regulator in English football.
Following the publication of the Crouch Report last year, the fan-led review into the state of football nationally, authored by Conservative MP Tracey Crouch, the government has committed to legal changes to how the game is governed. The new regulator will have the power to impose sanctions upon those who break financial and other rules, while a new owners' test will be introduced and fans given more of a say in how the game is governed.
The Crouch Report had made 10 recommendations when it was published late last year, with the introduction of an independent regulator something that was needed to stop the game from 'lurching from crisis to crisis'. The report itself arrived with the backdrop of the failed European Super League plot in April, something which Liverpool were heavily involved in before renouncing their intentions along with eight other teams.
In the wake of the failed ESL plot there was much anger directed at Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group for their part in dragging the Reds into the conversation. Such was the outcry, FSG principal owner John Henry recorded a video apology to Liverpool fans for his part in the plot, which came crashing down in just 48 hours, with the club then making moves to regain trust of the supporters through the creation of a Supporters Board that would have to give their consent for any such move to be made into a breakaway competition in the future.
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That Supporters Board, which is close to being up and running, consists of 10 Spirit Of Shankly committee members, plus six other representatives drawn from other fan organisations including Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association, Kop Outs, Spion Kop 1906, Official Liverpool Supporters Clubs, Liverpool Women’s Supporters Committee and faith and ethnic groups.
Greater fan representation at clubs through shadow boards was one of the recommendations of the Crouch Report, and Spirit of Shankly chairman Joe Blott has welcomed the decision, although shares concerns that a potential delay in introducing the independent regulator could bring about, with 2024 expected to be when the regulator comes into force.
Speaking to the ECHO, Blott said: "We welcome the news and we'll continue to work with the DCMS moving forward.
"From the recommendations of the Crouch Report we feel that we have made strides with the club to making sure most, if not all are ticked and that the Report serves as more of an endorsement of what we do as opposed to us being told what we need to do. We have been ahead of the curve in that respect.
"We believe independent regulation is the correct way forward, although it is a shame the Premier League do not share that stance. The Premier League has been shown that it cannot look after its own and can't control billionaire owners and nefarious owners and that is why we feel independent regulation is critical.
"Not every club has made the progress we have with regards to implementing a Supporters Board and it is important that the introduction of a regulator is done swiftly and not delated. Delays mean that less work will take place and some clubs will be dragged into this kicking and screaming resulting in levels of tokenism. Had we had more fan representation prior to the ESL plot then it would not have happened from an English perspective, certainly with the way that we are setting up the Supporters Board.
"It isn't just the top of the pyramid it is required. The whole English game needs this, we have lost the likes of Macclesfield, Bury and Chester City in seasons past and it has fallen on fans to build those clubs back up. Fans are the solution, not the problem."
Independent regulation may have been welcomed by some, and its need has been further highlighted by the crisis that arose from the ESL and, more recently, the controversial takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and Roman Abramovich's enforced sale of Chelsea due to the sanctions placed upon him through his links to Russian president Vladimir Putin following Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, the Premier League does not believe that an independent regulator is required for English football.
A statement from the Premier League read: "The Premier League recognises and accepts the case for reform and for a strengthened regulatory system across football.
"We welcome the clarity from the Government about their position, and are committed to working with them during this next phase of consultation, although we will continue to maintain that it is not necessary for there to be a statutory-backed regulator.
"Since the publication of the Fan-Led Review, the Premier League and our clubs have been working at pace to understand the full impact of the Review’s recommendations and design and implement policies in response to its objectives; including through reviewing our Owners’ and Directors’ Test.
"We agree that fans are of vital importance to the game and their voices should be better listened to across the League. We will be introducing a number of measures to improve this area and plan to make a detailed announcement before the start of the 2022/23 season.
"We are reassured that the Government acknowledges the success of the Premier League and the importance of delivering change that also protects the League’s position as one of this country’s most successful global exports.
"It is this that creates the extraordinary football we see every week in grounds around the country and has enabled our ongoing commitment to support football at all levels by reinvesting an unprecedented £1.6billion outside of the Premier League over the next three seasons."
But the Football Supporters Association, in a statement, urged the government not to delay any further and laid out how vital it sees the introduction of independent regulation to help tackle some of the critical issues that the game faces.
An FSA statement read: "The Government has acknowledged that “the free market will not fix football” – the FSA urges it to move fast and implement the fan-led review recommendations now.
"The introduction of an independent regulator is long overdue and we welcome the announcement that “IREF” should oversee financial regulation at all levels and establish a new, strengthened owners’ and directors’ test. We will look at further details very closely.
Fans have long argued that clubs are vital community assets with stadiums and heritages that deserve special protections – and the Government backs that position while acknowledging that supporter engagement by clubs “often falls far short of what fans rightfully expect.
"The announcement that “women’s football should be treated with parity and given its own dedicated review” is an important step, and one the FSA has long supported, as is the goal to give IREF a role in assessing football’s equality, diversity and inclusion action plans.
"But time is of the essence – as the Government says there are “serious concerns around the fragility of football finances”. There’s no time to dwell on the ball. Since the Government committed to a fan-led review of football governance in its 2019 manifesto we have seen: Macclesfield Town disappear, “Project Big Picture”, the European Super League, ownership controversy at many clubs, billionaire owners sabotage Premier League reform and existential crises at Coventry United, Derby County and Oldham Athletic, amongst others.
"Each day drafting White Papers is another day when a club might cease to exist. Another day for a dodgy owner to get their hooks into a club. Another day for remote billionaires to try and create European Super League 2.0.
"The FSA urges the Government to move fast and legislate now."
