Independent Football Regulator - An Historic Day For Football

[Foxes_Trust]

The Football Governance Bill achieved Royal Assent yesterday [Monday 21st July 2025], providing the legislation for the introduction of an Independent Football Regulator (IFR).

 

The Regulator is tasked with protecting clubs from unscrupulous and reckless owners, providing fans with a greater voice within the game, and protecting the domestic pyramid from any insurgence of a breakaway European leagues.

 

After 13 long years of campaigning by fan organisations past and in the present form of the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), the failure of football to regulate itself has led to the Football Governance Act that will grant powers to a Regulatory body, independent from government and football authorities.

 

The Football Governance Bill, originally tabled in 2024, followed the Fan-led Review into Football Governance (FLR), that came about after the attempted launch of the European Super League by elite clubs. Wide spread protests by fan groups across the country, led to the government of the day promising the review.

 

What powers will the independent football regulator have?

 

• New financial regulation to make sure clubs have a long-term sustainable future
• Stronger tests to stop reckless owners
• Instigating a licensing system for clubs
• New standards for fan engagement
• Ban on clubs forming breakaway leagues or closed-shop competitions
• Ensuring fair financial distribution between leagues
• Protections for key club heritage aspects like home shirt colours and club badges and stadium locations.

 

FSA chief executive Kevin Miles said:

 

“This is an historic moment for football in this country and we are very proud that the FSA was at the heart of change, helping to bring in laws which can help protect the clubs we love from the worst excesses of owners throughout the professional game. We look forward to working with the regulator, as well as the FA and leagues it covers, to ensure that the supporter voice continues to be at the forefront of debate as fans are the beating heart of the game. Club owners can no longer mark their own homework.”

 

Foxes Trust made contributions to the Fan-led Review, lobbied local MPs for support and has continued to back the work FSA undertook in helping DCMS to draft the Bill. However, the work does not end with the Act becoming law. Fan Groups will need to work with the Regulator to ensure that action is taken immediately to protect clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday from suffering the same fate as Bury FC in 2019.

 

There has been and remains opposition to the Act, with the Premier League being critical of the need for a regulator, and continuing to claim (despite evidence to the contrary) that football is capable of governing itself. Notable opposition came from some club owners and executives, with West Ham United vice chair Karren Brady telling the House of Lords there were “dangers lurking” in the bill, arguing it would affect competition.

 

Kieran Maguire, Associate Professor in Football Finance at University of Liverpool, said the legislation will protect clubs from “exploitation”, and the IFR is a necessary safeguard to ensure clubs “are not treated solely as assets”.

 

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

 

“This is a huge moment for football fans because we’ve had far too many clubs including mine, Wigan Athletic, at risk from poor ownership and finances.This is the moment football fans can breathe a sigh of relief because we are fixing the foundations of football and putting fans back at the heart of the game where they belong.”

 

Fan Groups have been invited to meet with the Regulator’s interim CEO, Martyn Henderson and Foxes Trust plan to make an application to share its members’ views on fan engagement.

 

The official launch of the Regulatory body is expected to take place later this year.

 

Some background on Martyn Henderson is available below

https://sgsa.org.uk/2024/01/martyn-hendersons-reflections

[fox766]

Will be interesting to see how much of a difference this will make. But I suppose it will take time see the full effects of it.

[Finnegan]

To this I say an absolutely massive, believe it when I see it. 

 

Really, really hope it brings change but I have significant doubts. 

 

[Ashley]

It was probably scare mongering but im sure UEFA said if this went ahead we would lose Euro2028? 

[dmayne7]

Even a poorly implemented version of this will be better than the shambolic way it is currently run

[coolhandfox]

Judge it on their body of work in 2 years I'm not convinced this will change anything.

[jammie82uk]

7 minutes ago, Ashley said:

It was probably scare mongering but im sure UEFA said if this went ahead we would lose Euro2028? 

They did say that but apparently it was diluted enough by the PM to meet Uefa’s needs 

[Stopharage]

The only thing our rabble will do for fan engagement is change the hold music. 

[Grebfromgrebland]

If there's ever anything to make the big teams break away it's this.

[davieG]

Well let's hope it's more active, effective, honest and productive than Ofwat. 

[foxgas]

I wonder who's paying for it?

[davieG]

1 minute ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

If there's ever anything to make the big teams break away it's this.

They where never going to break away from any English competitions they're all about replacing UEFA with their own Euro Competitions so they can have all the money from it.

They'll not be leaving the PL ever, well as far as ever can be seen.

[davieG]

2 minutes ago, foxgas said:

I wonder who's paying for it?

The fans ultimately.

[Globalfox]

With Kogan and company leading it you can bet nothing useful will come of it. More Labour luvvies with their snout in the trough.

[Gamble92]

This regulator will be as effective for football as the Foxestrust are for our fanbase 

[CrazyKopCorner]

FM it’s got Starmer written all over it. I’ll be stunned if it’s not totally shite. 

[floz]

37 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

If there's ever anything to make the big teams break away it's this.

Let's hope so 🤞

[WorcesterBlue]

37 minutes ago, foxgas said:

I wonder who's paying for it?

We are of course. Fans pay for everything.

 

[mozartfox]

As there are no other pressing issues this Government needs to attend to, this is excellent news along with Breakfast Clubs at Seagrave.

[Saxondale]

This is not going to solve everything but it is a step in the right direction.

[em9999]

If this is a labour idea it will be a total disaster 

 

 

[RobHawk]

Well I for one am hopeful that this will be a good thing. 

 

Ownership, financial security of clubs and fan engagement are not exactly managed well at the moment so I don't think it could get much worse. Happy to give them time and hope they can stop football in this country being as fan unfriendly as it is ATM. 

[CosbehFox]

4 hours ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

FM it’s got Starmer written all over it. I’ll be stunned if it’s not totally shite. 

The whole history of the bill was through the Tory period. It was all but there for writing into position by the time he was PM 

[123]

It is a bit rich the Uniparty Blob Government demanding that "clubs have a long term sustainable financial future" when the country is hurtling towards an IMF bail out and societal collapse.

 

Reckless politicians calling for tests to stop reckless owners?  How ironic.

 

New standards on fan engagement? Has anyone had to deal with the HMRC lately, Jesus wept.

 

How about fair financial disruption for UK citizens and not dumping money abroad before talking about fair financial distribution between leagues.

 

Protection for key club heritage? Apply the same protection to British culture first, oh wait sorry that's waycist.

 

Shambles Government. Pissweasels. Get rid.

 

[ronnup]

9 hours ago, em9999 said:

If this is a labour idea it will be a total disaster 

 

 

 

Unbelievable