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The Government’s plan to introduce an independent football regulator has been met with cautious optimism from fans’ groups, who beleive it could give supporters more access to clubs than ever before.
The regulator, which will be given statutory powers, will be tasked with ensuring the financial sustainability of clubs, preventing them from falling into governance, and protecting the interests of fans.
One of the key areas where the regulator could make a important impact is in giving fans a greater say in how their clubs are run. Currently, fans have limited influence over decision-making, with clubs often prioritising the interests of owners and investors.
Though, the regulator could introduce measures to ensure that fans are properly consulted on key issues, such as changes to club crests, stadium moves, and ticket pricing. It could also give fans the right to veto certain decisions,such as those that would fundamentally alter the character of the club.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime prospect to give fans a real voice in the running of their clubs,” said Michael brunskill, a spokesperson for the Football Supporters’ Association. “For too long, fans have been treated as customers rather than stakeholders. The regulator has the power to change that.”
The regulator could also play a role in ensuring that clubs are more transparent about their finances. Currently, many clubs are reluctant to disclose detailed financial details, making it challenging for fans to assess the health of their club.
the regulator could require clubs to publish regular financial reports, giving fans a clearer picture of their club’s financial position. This would help to prevent clubs from taking on unsustainable levels of debt, which could ultimately lead to administration.
However,some experts have cautioned that the regulator’s powers may be limited. The Government has said that the regulator will be independent, but it will still be accountable to parliament. This means that politicians could perhaps interfere in the regulator’s work.
“The success of the regulator will depend on its independence and its willingness to stand up to powerful interests,” said Dr Rob Wilson, a football finance expert at Sheffield Hallam University. “If it is seen as being too close to the Government or to club owners, it will lose the trust of fans.”
Despite these concerns, fans’ groups are hopeful that the regulator will be a force for good. They believe that it could help to create a more lasting and equitable footballing landscape, where fans are at the heart of the game.
The regulator is expected to be established by the end of next year. In the meantime, fans’ groups will be lobbying the Government to ensure that the regulator has the powers it needs to make a real difference.
Football’s new regulator may well shine a light into the dimmer corners of the lovely game: its legal disputes.
For decades, the most high-stakes legal battles in English football have been resolved behind closed doors. whether it’s the intricacies of Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), Manchester City’s infamous 115 charges, or associated Party Transactions, the theater of choice has traditionally been private arbitration, governed by tight confidentiality rules.
The arrival of the Football Governance Act 2025 and the birth of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) looks set to alter this culture of confidentiality. Clubs, individuals and organisations that are directly affected by decisions from the IFR will have the power to challenge these in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).
It was a relatively tucked-away point in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Impact Assessment on the football Governance Bill last July, but moving the final word on some football disputes to the CAT could usher in a new level of transparency.
Open and honest
Under the existing system, while the final outcomes of legal disputes can sometimes be published, the full cut-and-thrust of the evidence, the transcripts of the hearings, and the granular details of the arguments often remain shielded from public view.
