A landmark soccer governance bill “has been introduced in UK parliament to confirm the creation" of an independent regulator, according to Rampling & Slater of THE ATHLETIC. The independent regulator will have “powers to prevent breakaway competitions” such as the European Super League, “strengthen the owners and directors’ test and hold backstop powers around financial distribution between the Premier League and English Football League.” The regulator "will be independent" from the government and soccer authorities, and will be “equipped with robust powers revolving around three core objectives: to improve financial sustainability of clubs, ensure financial resilience across the leagues, and to safeguard the heritage" of English soccer. The legislation also will “give fans a greater voice in the running of their clubs” to "stop owners from changing club names, badges and home shirts." Fan engagement is "cited as 'central' to the bill," with a number of clubs “already having launched fan advisory boards" since a fan-led review in Nov. 2021. The EPL expressed “’concern’ about the bill negatively impacting the competitiveness" of English soccer, while the EFL “welcomed the bill.” For fans of good governance and clubs in the EFL, the "wait has been worth it.” This is a "remarkable moment for a sport that has defiantly resisted external oversight for so long, at times striding from success to success, at others lurching from crisis to crisis.” Whether the independent regulator will "do any better" than the Football Association in "keeping the Premier League’s more selfish moments in check ... remains to be seen" (THE ATHLETIC, 3/18).
