Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Rejected
Empower IREF to mandate EDI Action Plans as club licensing conditions
Recommendation
We are concerned that the Government has ignored recommendations to include EDI Action Plans for clubs and oversight of these plans within IREF’s remit. We believe that IREF would be well placed to receive and publish standardised data on compliance with EDI requirements in football, as well as monitoring and enforcing compliance with equality standards through EDI Action Plans. We recommend that the Government should give IREF the authority to mandate EDI Action Plans as part of its threshold licence conditions for clubs. Clubs’ performances against these Action Plans should be assessed regularly by IREF as part of its routine licence reviews. (Paragraph 36) The role of Football Authorities
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to give IREF authority to mandate and assess EDI Action Plans, stating that the Regulator's primary purpose is financial sustainability and wider EDI issues are best led by the industry.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Government also notes and supports the report’s calls for further action to be taken on a range of issues in the domestic game, including equality, diversity and inclusion. 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.