Marc Leighton

Time for action. The Football Governance Bill, protecting fans better and bringing in an independent Regulator, was published in Parliament (HoL) today. Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock outlined some of the issues in a briefing…. TICKET PRICES. The Bill will enshrine an obligation by clubs to consult fans on ticket pricing. Peacock emphasised, “Be very clear it is not a veto - ticket pricing is a commercial decision - but I've heard from far too many fans about how they find out the night before that tickets are going up by extortionate amounts. So we want to really encourage best practice.” NO SCOPE CREEP. There’s a limit to the Regulator’s remit. Legislation precisely and tightly drafted; any issue has to be about financial sustainability and governance. So Regulator won’t get involved in VAR, for instance. Peacock: “There will be other match-day issues (than ticketing) but we are very mindful of scope creep and the regulator not being able to deal with all of the issues in football.” But clubs will be forced to consult fans on changes to home stadium and changes to kit colours. But wording of legislation that “the club takes the views of its fans into account” is not that strong. Fans will want more backing from the Regulator on that. PARACHUTE STILL OPEN. Parachute payments to relegated clubs are decided by the Premier League and will continue. Peacock: “We have added some wording that makes it clear that they can't be abolished. We hope that that works towards some of the concerns the Premier League had. We recognise they have an important part to play, we also recognise that they can face (create) inflationary pressure (in the Championship).” Regulator will not take a position. Seems Govt unwilling to take on EPL on this. BACK-STOP. Designed to mediate a fair financial distribution of some of the elite clubs’ wealth down the Leagues should PL or EFL fail to come to an agreement. But only in very limited circumstances could back-stop be triggered, and only by PL or EFL. Then a panel of experts will convene and try to get parties to come together. STATE OF INDEPENDENCE. Current administration has removed obligation inserted by last Government to consider foreign policy. Peacock: “I wasn't clear why the previous Government put it in. We've taken that out. It’s very clear that the Regulator is fully independent of Government. Government doesn’t want to be involving itself in football, it is for clubs to work with Regulator.” Hopes this will allay concerns of Uefa and Fifa about perception of Government interference. Peacock has met FA and will meet Uefa and Fifa soon. LICENSING SYSTEM. Each of the 92 clubs have to be licensed. “In very simple terms you need to have a proper business plan, be a fit and proper owner and engage with your fans,” Peacock said. And comply with UK corporate governance code. It won’t be a problem for most clubs. It’s more of an issue for lower-league clubs facing sustainability problems. If clubs have dodgy owners they could lose their licence but very unlikely. Initially, they will be named and shamed, then fined. Peacock, who pointed out that there are “really good owners”, is keen for a collaborative approach with clubs and leagues, not combative. “We hope that with this licensing system it raises standards.” CHAIR. A host of candidates have been put forward, or have put themselves forward, to be chair of the Regulator, including a couple of prominent KCs. Peacock will relaunch the ad for the chair tomorrow. There’s already a shadow Regulator in place, the highly regarded Martyn Henderson, formerly CEO of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, setting things up. Remuneration level could be an issue. WOMEN’S GAME. This Bill is about the men’s game but Peacock emphasised that “in the explanatory notes to the Bill there will be an obligation to keep the women's game under review”. There has already been the Karen Carney Review of women’s football, and Peacock will be meeting her in a few weeks. LEGAL BILLS. Government used to setting up regulators in highly litigious industries. Not expecting the Regulator to have anywhere near the Premier League’s bill of £45m for legal fees last season. Some legal fees covered through any fines. EDI. No quotas but clubs have to produce a diversity plan. Peacock: “It’s important to acknowledge the work the industry's been doing on this (already). This doesn't involve quotas. This is about transparency.” If a club fails to show some progress on EDI representation, “there's a sliding scale of penalties that the Regulator can have at their disposal to naming and shaming, they maybe a fine through losing licence”. STATE OF THE GAME REPORT. First report within 18 months, then obligation for every five years.