U.K government Recommends Creating Independent Football Regulator

The British government's review of English football has recommended the creation of an independent regulator to deal with the game's finances, club ownership and corporate governance.

The move would weaken the powers of the Premier League and other leagues and the Football Association to govern the game themselves and introduce a series of new regulations.

Tracey Crouch, a lawmaker in Britain's parliament, conducted what she called a "fan-led review" with experts looking into problems in the game following fan protests over lower league clubs going into administration and controversial plans from the top clubs like the proposed breakaway European Super League.

"The main recommendation is for a new Independent Regulator for English Football (IREF) established by an Act of Parliament, which will be focused upon specialist business regulation adapted to the football industry," Crouch said in the foreword to her report.

"This would operate a licensing system for professional men’s football. The licensing conditions should focus upon measures to ensure financial sustainability via financial regulation ... and improving decision making at clubs through items such as a new corporate governance code for professional football clubs, improved persity and better supporter engagement," she added.

The report also calls for a "golden share" for fans, which would require supporter consent on certain issues.