English men’s football gets regulator

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MPs have voted to back the Football Governance Bill and establish an independent regulator to oversee the men’s game in England.

The BBC said the legislation will grant powers to a body that is independent from government and football authorities.

The Bill will introduce a football watchdog for the top five tiers of the men’s game to ensure clubs are run sustainably and are accountable to fans.

The MPs voted by 415 to 98 to pass the bill at its third reading in the House of Commons, and it is now poised to become law.

The government has previously said an independent regulator will “protect football clubs” by “ensuring their financial sustainability”.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the Commons: “We promised in our manifesto that we would end years of inaction and make the changes that fans have fought for for so long and are so overdue.

“I am proud to be part of the winning team that has put our fans back on the pitch at the heart of the game where they belong.

“This is for Macclesfield, for Wigan, for Bury, for Bolton, for Derby, for Reading, for Sheffield Wednesday, for Morecambe and for many, many more who have had to endure the misery of being put last when they should have been put first.”

The Bill was initially introduced in March 2024 by the then-Conservative government but failed to pass through parliament before a general election was called in May. The new Labour government reintroduced the bill in July 2024.

Football campaign group Fair Game described the bill clearing the Commons as “a historic step forward for our national game.”

It added: “This is a victory for fairness, sustainability and the future of football… Now, at long last, we are firmly on the path to a fairer future for football.”

At the same time, MPs rejected a Conservative amendment to force ministers to launch a formal consultation on scrapping the rule banning alcohol in football stands across the top five tiers of men’s football in England.

Shadow sport minister Louie French said, “The alcohol ban, which has been in place since 1985, was introduced to help curb hooliganism on the terraces during the problematic era of British football.

“As football fans know, we have this legacy ban which sees fans rushing to drink their beer before kick-off and at half-time, this often leads to the fans being delayed entering the stadiums and overcrowding on the concourses.”

Responding to French, Sports Minister Peacock said: “This is outside the scope of the Bill, which is focused on sustainability of clubs and game overall. I’ve raised the issue with the Home Office, as I committed to do during the Bill committee, as it is their policy lead.”

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