Government Introduces "Historic" Football Regulator Legislation

The Government has introduced the much-anticipated Football Governance Bill to the House of Commons, finally paving the way for an independent regulator which will aim to reform the financial flow of football.

The Bill aims to give powers to a new independent body which will manage and discipline the top five leagues of English football.  

The announcement of the legislation follows the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto pledge to implement one, and the subsequent fan-led review by Tracey Crouch which was published in 2021.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, who will introduce the Bill to the Commons on Tuesday, said the government was always prepared to bring the legislation forward even if the country's elite clubs and lower league teams had not reached an agreement on how the new system should work.

“The best outcome is that the Premier League and the EFL come to a deal that works for them, because then they can negotiate something for them. I’ve been pressing them do to that," she said during a trip to Leyton Orient football club in east London to launch the legislation. 

“I’ve met all the Premier League clubs. I’ve met all the EFL clubs. I’ve encouraged them to do that and I was very disappointed that they didn’t manage to do that and that the Premier League didn’t make an offer as a result of their meeting last week.

“In the absence of that, we have always been very clear that if they can’t come to a deal, then the regulator will. Now we are bringing forward the legislation that will allow which will enable that to happen.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the Bill as a “historic moment for football fans” which would make sure fans were at the “front and centre” of football.

The regulator's core aims will be to improve