English Football Governance: The New Regulatory Framework
- Author
- The Bench Report
- Published
- Fri 25 Apr 2025
- Episode Link
- https://open.substack.com/pub/thebenchreport/p/english-football-governance-the-new?r=5ft5bx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Today, we're looking at the football governance bill. It's already been through the House of Lords, and now it's landed in the House of Commons.
This new law aims to tackle long-standing issues in English football, such as club finances, ownership, and giving fans a greater voice – issues brought into sharp focus by the 2021 fan-led review, the pandemic's impact on club finances, and the European Super League proposal.
In this episode, you will learn about:
- The bill's main aims: promoting financial sustainability, protecting club heritage, and ensuring genuine fan engagement.
- The creation and role of the independent football regulator (IFR) and its licensing system for clubs in the top five tiers.
- The IFR's powers regarding financial soundness, systemic resilience, and safeguarding heritage assets like badges and stadiums.
- A new, more robust suitable owners and officers test administered by the IFR.
- Clubs' duties regarding heritage matters, stadium changes, and consulting fans on key identity elements.
- How the bill addresses the contentious issue of revenue distribution between leagues, including a potential backstop for the IFR to intervene.
- The IFR's enforcement powers, including investigations, financial penalties, and even potential criminal offenses in serious cases.
- The appeals process for challenging IFR decisions.
View the Extended Shownotes on Substack.
Source: Football Governance Bill [HL] 2024-25
Research Briefing
Published Wednesday, 23 April, 2025
Follow and subscribe to 'The Bench Report' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for new episodes Mon-Thurs: thebenchreport.co.uk
Subscribe to our Substack for in depth analysis of debates past and present.
Shape our next episode or article! Get in touch with an issue important to you - Producer Tom will grab another coffee and start the research!
Email us: [email protected]
Follow us on YouTube, X, Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram @BenchReportUK
Support us for bonus and extended episodes + more.
No outside chatter: source material only taken from Hansard and the Parliament UK website.
Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0....
