Fair Game hails King’s Speech as “historic moment for football”

• Plans to regulate English Football welcomed

• Introduction of Regulator “must not be wasted”

• Regulator must have “teeth and resources” to deliver culture change

FAIR GAME today welcomed the announcement of a new Independent Regulator for Football (IREF) in the King’s Speech as a “historic moment for football”.

The inclusion of a new Football Bill in the King’s Speech is a watershed moment for our National Game. This momentous step can potentially end the vicious cycle that sees the survival of football clubs under threat daily. It is a potential that, Fair Game believe, must not be wasted.  

Fair Game CEO Niall Couper said:

“Today’s announcement is a historic moment for football and represents a real chance to end the cycle of overspending and mismanagement that has plagued our National Game and threatened the very existence of our clubs.

"Right now clubs like Sheffield Wednesday, Reading and Scunthorpe United are staring into the abyss.

"There will be intense pressure to weaken the regulator’s remit at a time when proper protection and scrutiny of our National Game is needed more than ever.

“Those tasked with setting up the regulator must resist that pressure and remain laser-focused to deliver a fairer future for football and the culture change the sport desperately needs.

“Reckless spending, disconnect between clubs and their communities, and lip service to equality standards must be consigned to the rubbish bin of history. This transformation can only be achieved if the regulator has the teeth and resources to deliver.”

Couper added:

“Football clubs are unique businesses. They are community assets, steeped in history and tradition, and act as role models for society. 

“We believe the regulator has a huge responsibility and must have the powers to impose the new rules, create a fairer financial flow, and, crucially, help clubs introduce the changes required.

“While it will be a drop in the ocean to clubs like Manchester City, who have almost unlimited resources, for clubs like Accrington Stanley, AFC Wimbledon and Dorking Wanderers, who have only a handful of full-time staff, it could be the difference between survival or not.

“A new license fee based on a percentage of revenue should be introduced and used in part to provide staffing support across the top seven divisions.”