U.K. Government Empowers Soccer Regulator: A New Era for English Football

The U.K. government's Football Governance Bill aims to bolster the powers of an independent soccer regulator to prevent 'rogue owners and directors' from destabilizing clubs and thwart any attempts at forming a breakaway Super League. The bill proposes stricter ownership tests and reinforces fan engagement in club decisions.

The U.K. government is pushing forward with enhanced powers for a proposed soccer regulator, designed to tackle 'rogue owners and directors' and obstruct a repeat attempt at a breakaway Super League.

The Football Governance Bill, set before the House of Lords on Thursday, seeks to empower an independent regulator with the ability to safeguard club futures, including strengthened assessments of who can manage or own them. It mandates clubs to engage effectively with supporters on matters like ticket prices or stadium relocation plans.

This legislative move comes after the collapse of lower-league clubs such as Bury and Macclesfield, catalyzed by 'excessive and reckless risk-taking.' The bill also aims to prevent another Super League scenario, a response to the 2021 initiative by 12 elite European clubs including six from the Premier League. The government, emphasizing football as a national treasure and economic export, seeks enduring stability in what Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy called a 'critical juncture for English football.'

(With inputs from agencies.)