New briefing: Fair Game issues detailed analysis of White Paper on football
“There is a lot to be welcomed in the White Paper - stronger rules on financial regulation, a corporate governance code, and protection of a club’s heritage.
But there are still a few issues that need to be resolved - notably financial flow and whether the regulator will have the teeth it needs”
Niall Couper, Fair Game CEO
JUST hours after the Government’s White Paper A sustainable future - reforming club football governance was published, Fair Game has produced a detailed briefing on the policy proposals - and given a rating on each of the main elements in it.
There were eight key areas covered in the policy paper, here is how they scored:
Financial Regulation A*
Finances and Distribution in Football D
Corporate Governance A
Owners’ and Directors’ Test B
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion F
Protecting Club Heritage A
Improving Supporter Engagement A
The Powers of the Regulator B
Niall Couper, the CEO of Fair Game, a group of 34 professional football clubs campaigning for better governance in football, said:
“Huge credit has to go to Tracey Crouch, who began this process with the Fan-Led Review 18 months ago. This could be a real turning point for our National Game.
“There is a lot to be welcomed in the White Paper - stronger rules on financial regulation, the introduction for the first time of a corporate governance code, and protection of a club’s heritage.
“While there are lots of positives in the document, as our scorecard has revealed, there are still a few issues that need to be resolved - notably financial flow and whether the regulator will have the teeth it needs.
“However, for the first time, there is now a path to deliver meaningful change. We need political will to strengthen the proposals, produce a firm legislative timetable, and drive this White Paper through the parliamentary process to change our game for the better.
“Fair Game’s mantra has always been to develop realistic long-term solutions to the problems football faces.
“Today we have set our team of experts the challenge of answering those questions. We want to aid the DCMS in any way we can to deliver a game that we can all be proud of."
