Looming crisis means Sunak must act now to save the future of football
“It is not a difficult solution: Michelle Donelan. At the Dispatch Box. With the White Paper. Now.”
Niall Couper, CEO, Fair Game
The growing crisis in football has led to a dramatic intervention from 29 football clubs. The 29, including almost a third of clubs in League One and League Two, have sent an urgent call to the Government demanding reform to football.
The 29 want the immediate introduction of a White Paper into football governance and a commitment to a new independent regulator in the next King’s Speech. The White Paper is the final parliamentary process required to bring in legislation.
The call came in a letter signed by the clubs and sent to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Michelle Donelan MP.
Niall Couper, CEO of Fair Game, who coordinated the letter, said:
"We have had countless delays and frankly enough is enough.
"The Conservatives made a pledge to reform football governance in their manifesto. In July Rishi Sunak pledged to introduce all 10 of the recommendations of the fan-led review.
"In the meantime clubs are moving closer to the brink. The pandemic left clubs on their knees and the cost-of-living crisis could be the knockout blow.
"Continued inaction and a lack of regulation will see clubs erased from history with devastating impact on the local economy and community. Inaction is inexcusable. No more delays.
“It is not a difficult solution: Michelle Donelan. At the Dispatch Box. With the White Paper. Now.”
A study by Fair Game revealed that in 2020, 52% of clubs in the top four divisions were technically insolvent. That was before the pandemic and the start of the cost-of-living crisis.
Last month, a survey of 40 clubs revealed over seven in 10 were worried about the future, with 68% demanding extra financial support from the Premier League.
Meanwhile a Fair Game petition calling on the DCMS to implement an independent regulator has over 31,000 signatories. And a recent poll showed 85% of 11,000 Premier League fans supported its implementation.
The letter calls for the government to bring forward a White Paper into football governance and commit to having a new independent regulator for English football. The regulator would:
Oversee financial regulation
Ensure there is a fair distribution of the game’s revenues across the football pyramid
Run a new owners’ and directors’ test for clubs, replacing the three existing tests and ensuring that only good custodians and qualified directors can run these vital assets
Set a new approach to corporate governance to support the long-term sustainable future of the game
Assess and help introduce new equality, diversity and inclusion action plans for football
Ensure that key items of club heritage are protected
Couper added:
“This legislation is popular with football fans and those who have the long-term health of our national at their interest. However, football authorities have continued to ignore calls for self-regulation and improvement. The Government must act. There can be no more excuses.”
In July, in an exclusive interview with The Sun Rishi Sunak said he would implement all ten of the recommendations from former sports minister Tracey Crouch's fan-led football review in time for the World Cup. He added: “Football is part of the fabric of our culture. The chants, colours, kits and scarves are at the heart of homes and communities across the country. We must protect those traditions.”
The full letter can be seen here.
