FAIR GAME today revealed the important changes needed to make the new Football Governance Bill fit for purpose. The announcement comes ahead of the Bill’s second reading in parliament on Wednesday (13 November).

The organisation’s legal and advocacy teams have assessed the 134-page Bill line-by-line and have identified 19 amendments it considers are needed to ensure that the legislation is robust and that the Independent Regulator has the powers it needs.

The top three priorities for Fair Game, which represents 34 men’s professional clubs from across the football pyramid, are:

• Ensure football’s financial distribution strengthens and benefits the entire football pyramid

• The Independent Regulator’s board and staff are free of vested interest

• There is adequate financial and staffing support for clubs to help them to implement any new regulations

Other amendments put forward include tackling parachute payments, strengthening the owners’ and directors’ test, protecting club heritage, exploring the addition of the women’s game, multi-club ownership and player welfare under the remit of the regulator.

Fair Game CEO and founder Niall Couper said:

“Since the publication of the Bill, Fair Game has scrutinised every word of the proposed legislation to ensure that it will be fit-for-purpose across a range of areas not only for our member clubs but also for the wider football pyramid.

“The Secretary of State Lisa Nandy and the DCMS have improved the previous Bill put forward by the last government, however there is still room for improvement to ensure the regulator has the teeth required.

“As an organisation we want to ensure that a fair financial flow is top of the agenda. We also want assurances that the regulator cannot be influenced by vested interests and we want guarantees that clubs receive the support they need.

“We will be calling on the Lords, where this Bill will have its second reading, to take on board our concerns and to implement the changes needed.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get this right for our national game. It has to be seized.”

Fair Game’s analysis of the Bill is here. The Football Governance Bill was published on 23 October.