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Former sports minister backs independent regulator

Former sports minister Helen Grant has submitted a '10 minute rule bill' to the House of Commons which would create an independent regulator for football: https://thefsa.org.uk/news/football-governance-requires-emergency-surgery-mp-tells-commons/

Ten minute rule bills are a means of publicising a cause: they have virtually no chance of success.  The MP is part of the Saving Our Beautiful Game group which includes ex-FA chairman David Bernstein and ex-FA executive director David Davis.

Grant described the FA as 'outdated and out of touch' and said the Premier League were 'marking their own homework'.

The independent regulator she envisages would have a wide remit and be able to:

  • Distribute funds in the interest of the wider game
  • Introduce a licensing scheme for professional clubs
  • Review the causes of financial stress
  • Bring forward reforms to modernise and strengthen the FA
  • Work with supporter groups
  • Support the promotion of diversity and inclusion in football

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