Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Ninth Report - Football Governance
Culture, Media and Sport Committee
HC 1288
Published 30 June 2023
Government response
Eleventh Special Report - Football Governance: Government Response to the Committee’s Ninth Report · published 26 Sep 2023
Recommendations & Conclusions
2
Recommendation
Deferred
Establish a Shadow Independent Regulator for English Football by end of 2023 and pass required legislation.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government should establish the Independent Regulator for English Football in a shadow form by the end of 2023 to ensure that it can begin initial engagement and preparatory work before waiting for legislation to be passed. …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the importance of transitional arrangements but then entirely pivots its response to discussing fan engagement standards, the Regulator's role in oversight, and existing club engagement, without addressing the specific recommendation to establish a shadow regulator by end of 2023 or the timeline for legislation.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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4
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 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 …
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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.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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6
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 31
Limited progress on EDI outcomes in football highlights need for universal standards
Conclusion
The inclusion of concrete, universal EDI measures in the new Football Governance Code is a necessary step to address the significant concerns about a lack of EDI oversight in football. The work on EDI done by the leagues to date …
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Government Response Summary
The government outlines its commitment to establishing the Independent Football Regulator with backstop powers to intervene on financial distributions and bringing forward legislation. However, it does not specifically address the recommendation for concrete, universal EDI measures in the new Football Governance Code.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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