Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Deferred
Paragraph: 22
IREF presents a significant opportunity to accelerate and strengthen fan engagement in football.
Conclusion
The introduction of IREF remains a great opportunity to increase the pace of the important work that is already underway at football clubs consulting and engaging with their fans. Whilst clubs should be encouraged to exceed fan engagement standards and pursue best practice, this should be underpinned by the backstop of a strong, independent regulatory framework.
Government Response Summary
The government states the Regulator's primary focus will be on financial sustainability, systemic stability, and protecting club heritage, not the wider fan engagement standards or independent regulatory framework, which it believes are best led by the industry.
Paragraph Reference:
22
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Government welcomes the industry’s ongoing efforts to improve transparency and its commitments to practices which seek to provide equity and fair opportunities for all. For example, since the publication of the Fan-Led Review, the football leagues and the FA have introduced enhanced equality requirements for football clubs. There is still more progress to be made and the Government will continue to engage with the leagues and the FA to drive forward football’s equality commitments. However, as outlined above, the Regulator’s primary strategic purpose will be to ensure that English football is sustainable and resilient for the benefit of fans and the local communities football clubs serve. As such, the Regulator will focus on the financial sustainability of clubs, the systemic stability of the football pyramid and protecting club heritage. Wider issues are therefore best placed to be led by industry and the Government continues to engage closely with a range of stakeholders on these important topics.