This week the Football Governance Bill returned to the House of Commons for its Second Reading. The Bill delivers on the governments manifesto commitment to establish the independent football regulator and a new set of rules to protect clubs, empower fans and keep clubs at the heart of their communities.

This is a historic piece of legislation which has been developed over several years, following Dame Tracey Crouch’s Fan Led-Review. 

Despite the success of English Football, irresponsible owners, unsustainable financial models and inadequate regulation have cast a shadow over too many clubs. Industry regulation has not gone far enough in tackling these issues.

The Bill’s primary purpose will be to ensure that English football is sustainable for the benefit of fans. It will improve the sustainability of club finances, prevent rogue owners and directors, and strengthen the voice of fans. This legislation will protect our football pyramid for future generations.

The Bill will establish an Independent Football Regulator to protect and promote the sustainability of English football in the interests of fans and the local communities football clubs serve. This will be a tightly defined purpose, focussed on the ability of English football and its clubs to continue providing their service to fans and local communities.

To support this purpose, it will have three objectives:

• Club financial soundness – the financial sustainability of individual clubs
• Systemic financial resilience – the financial sustainability of the overall football pyramid.
• Safeguarding club heritage – protecting the heritage aspects of football clubs that matter most to fans.

The legislation will strengthen the governance and financial resilience of football clubs and the link between clubs and their fans.

Manchester Withington MP Jeff Smith said:

I worked closely developing this legislation in my role as Shadow Sports Minister during the previous Parliament. The last Government failed to deliver their Bill, so it’s been down to Labour to make this important legislation happen. I am delighted to help it pass its second reading on Monday.

English football has the most exciting, high-quality league in the world. It is one of our great exports and cultural strengths, but the governance of our game has been in need of reform for some time. This Bill will provide huge reassurance to fans and help keep clubs at the heart of our communities.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

“English football is one of our greatest exports and a source of national pride which this Government wants to see thrive for generations to come. But for too long, financial instability has meant loyal fans and whole communities have risked losing their cherished clubs as a result of mismanagement and reckless spending. This Bill seeks to properly redress the balance, putting fans back at the heart of the game, taking on rogue owners and crucially helping to put clubs up and down the country on a sound financial footing.”

Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said:

“Football would be nothing without its fans, and this strengthened Bill will deliver an Independent Regulator that puts them firmly back at the centre of the game. From protecting club heritage such as shirt colours and badges that mean so much to so many of us, to requiring clubs to consult fans on changes to ticket prices, the Regulator will help make the game the best it can be. Working side by side with the football authorities, the Regulator will protect clubs and make sure they’re kept at the heart of their communities, where they belong.”