The UK Government says it will establish an independent football regulator following a fan-led review into the sport. It comes just over one year after the Super League was announced and then toppled in 48 hours.
The review made ten key recommendations that the government should act upon, from fan safety to say over ownership. The ownership dilemma is something that has only been highlighted over the past year.
There have been questions over ownership in particular over the past few years, especially following the liquidation of Bury Football Club. Then came the European Super League, further putting the debate over who should own a club under the microscope.
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Eyebrows were raised over the apparent involvement of the Saudi state in the takeover of Newcastle, while Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was recently sanctioned by the government following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This put the Blues’ future in doubt, with restrictions on what they could do in the short-term, followed by questions over what the long-term may hold.
Under the new football regulator, a new test for owners will be added for before the sale as well as on an ongoing basis, while the new law will allow fans to have more of a say in how their game is run. The regulator will also have the power to sanction clubs that break the rules.
Tracey Crouch, a member of parliament and a former secretary of state for Sport, chaired the original fan-led review to the house. She has since spoken about the implementation of a regulator, saying in a PA News Agency statement: “I am exceptionally pleased [the government] has accepted or supported all the strategic recommendations of the review, including committing to legislation for a statutory independent regulator which will regulate financial resilience as well as ownership of clubs,"
"This is an enormous step forward in providing much-needed reform for football,” she added. "Further delays could be catastrophic for clubs, communities and fans seeking a more secure and certain regulatory environment.”
The Premier League have since given a statement on the decision for a regulator, saying: "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."
It could be set to have a huge impact on the way football is run in the country, given how key clubs are to the community. It remains to be seen exactly how it will be implemented, but change is coming.
