Review recommends new ownership tests for football clubs
A fan-led review of English football has recommended a number of measures including new ownership tests.
Port Vale fans. who have witnessed protests against previous owners and two administrations will recognise the importance of football clubs having the right owners in place.
Former sports minister Tracey Crouch has led the new review and she told BBC Sport: “This is a huge opportunity for football. We’ve seen football lurching from crisis to crisis over the past decade and unfortunately we haven’t had the right levels of regulation in place to stop that from happening.”
The report makes 47 recommendations, which are summed up in 10 major points:
- The government should create a new independent regulator (IREF)
- IREF should oversee financial regulation in football
- IREF should establish new owners’ and directors’ tests
- A new corporate governance code should be set up
- Equality, diversity and inclusion plans should be mandatory for all clubs
- Supporters should be consulted on all key off-field decisions through a ‘shadow board’
- Key items of club heritage should be protected by a ‘golden share’ for fans
- There should be more support from the Premier League to the pyramid through a solidarity transfer levy, paid by Premier League clubs on buying players from overseas or other top-flight clubs
- Women’s football should be treated equally and given its own review
- Stakeholders should work to increase protection of welfare of players leaving the game