Closed petition Enforce the “50+1” Rule for professional football club ownership in the UK
Bring in a law which enforces professional football clubs to have at least 51% fan ownership similar to how the Bundesliga operates this rule.
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The new “European super league” plans show the clear greed of elite football club owners in England. This precedent of profit over people is already taking the game away from everyday people who founded and made the sport what it is. This law would ensure decisions made around the clubs would take the fans and good of the game as a priority over money.
This petition is closed All petitions run for 6 months
Parliament debated this topic
This topic was debated on 14 June 2021
Government responded
This response was given on 24 May 2021
The European Super League proposals demonstrated now is the right time to launch the fan-led review of football governance. This will be a comprehensive examination of the English football system.
As announced in the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Oral Statement on 19 April, Tracey Crouch MP will Chair a fan-led review of governance and will engage extensively with fans to ensure their experiences are at the centre of the review. As a former Minister for Sport, and a football fan herself, she is well-placed to deliver on this key aspect. Fans are the lifeblood of the sport, and the Government is committed to ensuring that their views are at the heart of the review.
We are currently working through the structure of the review with the Chair, including the timeline for publication of the report, and will provide updates shortly. Given the seriousness of these issues, we will be looking to move at pace on this. As the Terms of Reference demonstrate, Ministers and officials have collated ideas and issues from the numerous meetings with stakeholders over the past year. This will be a thorough examination of the English football system looking at issues of ownership, governance and funding through the football pyramid, including the women’s game and lower league football. As part of this, the review will be exploring governance structures in other countries, including ownership models, and whether any aspects can be beneficially translated to the English league system. It will also examine progress against the Government’s Expert Working Group on Football Supporter Ownership and Engagement, which set out recommendations to improve engagement, such as structured dialogue between clubs and fans.
We know how important this review is for fans across the country and will ensure that their voices are at the heart of the review.
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Related activity
Share your views on the governance of football with MPs
On Monday 14 June, MPs will debate petitions relating to the governance of football, including the petition you signed. The debate will be led by Petitions Committee member Jonathan Gullis MP, and MPs from all parties can take part. The Government will send a Minister to respond.
Ahead of the debate, MPs on the Petitions Committee would like to hear your views on how football is run in England, and what actions you feel the Government should take to protect the 'football pyramid'.
Share your views by completing this short survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/KTPB3R/
The deadline for responses is 9am on Tuesday 8 June.
What is the Petitions Committee?
The Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs who are appointed by the House of Commons to consider petitions started on https://petition.parliament.uk and public (paper) petitions.
Find out more about the work of the Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/
Follow the Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions
MPs debate petitions relating to football governance
On Monday 14 June, MPs debated petitions relating to football governance, including the petition you signed.
Watch the debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zNR1ypT6iw
Read the transcript: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-06-14/debates/21061454000001/FootballGovernance
The debate was led by Petitions Committee member Jonathan Gullis MP and Nigel Huddleston MP, Minister for Sport and Tourism, responded for the Government.
What you told us about how English football is run
Ahead of the debate, the Petitions Committee ran a survey of petitioners to hear your views on how English football is run, and steps the Government could take to protect the 'football pyramid'. Many thanks to the over 9,300 of you who responded.
Read a summary of what you told us: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/36793/default/
How do petitions debates work?
Petitions debates allow MPs from across the House to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.
Petitions debates cannot however directly change the law, or result in a vote on whether to implement the request of the petition.
MPs question the Government on the final report of its 'fan-led' review of football governance
On Thursday 25 November, MPs questioned Nigel Huddleston MP, Minister for Sport, Tourism, Heritage and Civil Society, on the final report of the Government's 'Independent Fan-led Review of Football Governance'. This followed an Urgent Question by Jo Stevens MP.
Read MPs' questions and the Minister's responses: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-11-25/debates/E02AFDC3-CFBF-40B1-B9FC-A214394C2F4B/IndependentFan-LedReviewOfFootballGovernance
Read the final report of the review: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fan-led-review-of-football-governance-securing-the-games-future
In his response, the Minister confirmed that the Government would formally respond to the report "in the new year". He confirmed the Government "endorse in principle" the report's central recommendation of a "strong, independent regulator" for football.
The report's recommendations also include a recommendation that clubs be required to provide for a 'Golden Share' to be held by a body such as a supporters trust, which would require clubs to seek their consent for certain actions such as:
- selling a stadium or permanently relocating it outside of its local area;
- joining a new competition not affiliated to FIFA, UEFA or the FA; or
- changing the club badge, the club name or first team home colours.
The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries MP, also made a statement to the House on this matter.
Read the Secretary of State's statement: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-11-25/hcws417.
What are Urgent Questions?
If an urgent or important matter arises which an MP believes requires an immediate answer from a government minister, they may apply to ask an urgent question.
The relevant Government Minister has to come to the Chamber to explain what the Government is doing on the issue raised. The Minister will then usually take questions on the subject from MPs.
Football clubs to be required to consult fans on key decisions
On Monday 25 April, Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston MP announced that the Government will require football clubs in England to achieve a minimum level of "meaningful engagement" with fans. Responsibility for setting out what this 'minimum level' will be will sit with a new independent regulator, which the Government has said it will create.
In a statement to the House of Commons, the Minister confirmed that the Government endorses each of the recommendations of the Fan-Led Review of Football Governance, which published its final report in November. Following the statement, the Minister took questions from MPs.
Watch the Minister's statement: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/dfa3dd63-f1dd-4a9d-9ae9-0cd8ad647777?in=16:36:54
Read the transcript: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-04-25/debates/8168922D-82A0-476A-B45F-0443CF28AE27/FootballGovernance
In the statement, the Minister confirmed that the new regulator will also establish a new 'owners and directors test' to "ensure that only good custodians and qualified directors can run these vital community assets".
The Government has said it will also:
- Take steps to protect clubs' stadia, colours and badges
- Call on the Premier League to increase financial support for clubs in lower leagues
- Launch a dedicated review of women's football in England
- Add the FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's European Championships to the listed events regime, meaning they will continue to be available on free-to-air television
Find out more about the Government's response to the Fan-Led Review of Football Governance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-the-fan-led-review-of-football-governance/government-response-to-the-fan-led-review-of-football-governance
The Minister said the Government will set out further details of how it plans to implement these changes in a policy document known as a 'White paper', to be published "in the summer".
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MPs debate governance and financial sustainability of football clubs in England
On Monday 7 November MPs debated governance and financial sustainability of football clubs in England. The debate was led by Shabana Mahmood MP.
What are Adjournment debates?
Adjournment debates give a backbench MP the opportunity to raise an issue and receive a response from a government minister. They do not end in a vote.
Find out more about Adjournment debates.
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Plans to protect football fans and their clubs set out by Government
On Thursday 23 February the Government announced its plans to introduce new rules for professional football clubs, including a new independent regulator for the men's elite game.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has published a 'White Paper' (a policy document) which sets out their plans.
- Read the announcement of the Government's plans
- Read the Government's White Paper: A sustainable future - reforming club football governance
A Minister from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport gave a statement about the Government's plans in the House of Commons.
How is the Government planning to protect football fans and their clubs?
The Government has said it will establish a new independent regulator for the men’s elite game in law, and that this regulator will:
- Oversee the financial sustainability of clubs
- Ensure fans have a say in how their club is run
- Implement a new licensing system for professional clubs
- Approve sales or relocations of stadiums
- Have powers to block English clubs from joining breakaway leagues
These plans follow the Government accepting recommendations from the Fan-Led Review of Football Governance report.
The Government's Fan-Led Review of Football
The review that prompted this White Paper was launched in April 2021 and was triggered by several events which affected the game including the covid-19 pandemic, financial problems for clubs and attempts to create new break-away leagues.
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MPs debate football regulation
On Wednesday 8 November, MPs took part in an adjournment debate on football regulation. During the debate MPs discussed the Government's plans to introduce legislation to create an Independent Football Regulator to protect the future of English football for fans and communities.
The debate was led by Matt Rodda MP. Sir John Whittingdale MP, The Minister for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries, responded for the Government.
What are Adjournment debates?
Adjournment debates are general debates which do not end in a vote. They give a backbench MP the opportunity to raise an issue and receive a response from a government minister.
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Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.