An Overview Of The Fan-Led Review Of Football Governance

Following their initial interim findings in July[1], the independent fan-led review into football governance, chaired by Tracey Crouch MP, have now published their final report[2] which sets out 47 recommendations to safeguard the future of English football (the “Report”).

The fan-led review of English football was initiated as a result of ‘three points of crisis’^[3] in the national game:

• the collapse of one of English football's oldest institutions in Bury FC;
• the far-ranging impacts, both financial and non-financial in nature, of the Covid-19 pandemic; and
• the attempt to form a breakaway by six Premier League clubs, along with others in Europe, to form the European Super League in April 2021.

All three of these had a significant impact on the English football pyramid and led to protests major stakeholders including fans, commentators and the Government. The issues outlined above are likely to have undermined the Government’s faith in the ability of the existing governance structures in football, to deal with the issues that faced the game. Indeed, concerns were raised that the governing bodies may face a significant conflict of interest when decisions they are responsible for impact upon the value of English football as a commercial product. As a result, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced the fan-lead review of English football on 19 April 2021.

The recommendations set out in the review significant and far-reaching proposed changes which, if adopted are likely to have a significant impact on the operation of football clubs throughout the English football pyramid.

The Report is a thoroughly comprehensive and impressive piece of work. However, as with all issues in football consensus is hard to find and whilst many stakeholders have praised the Report, others (including some Premier League clubs) are reported[4] to be resistant to change.