Plans to overhaul the governance of English football have passed their first major hurdle in the House of Commons, with MPs backing the Football Governance Bill by 342 votes to 70 on Monday evening.
The legislation, which aims to establish an independent regulator for the top five tiers of the men’s game, has received widespread cross-party support. The proposed regulator would be responsible for ensuring clubs are run sustainably, with proper financial oversight and fan accountability. It would also be granted “backstop” powers to resolve financial disputes between the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL), should they fail to reach an agreement on their own.
However, the debate was not without controversy. Conservative MPs voiced sharp concerns that the new watchdog could be perceived by global footballing bodies as government interference — a violation of FIFA and UEFA statutes — potentially putting English clubs and even the national team at risk of exclusion from European and international competitions.
Adding to the tension is the Government’s nomination of David Kogan as the preferred candidate to lead the regulator. Mr Kogan, a veteran media executive and business adviser with four decades of experience, previously advised both the Premier League and the EFL on broadcast rights. Yet his links to the Labour Party, including donations to individual MPs and a past role as chair of the LabourList website, have sparked claims of cronyism.
Shadow Culture Secretary Stuart Andrew warned: “The proposal to appoint Mr Kogan drives a coach and horses through the independence of the football regulator.” He added that such a move could increase the risk of English clubs being barred from European competition — a concern already raised by UEFA in a leaked letter last year.
However, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy swiftly rebutted this claim, shouting from the frontbench: “You approached him,” in reference to Kogan’s inclusion on a shortlist drawn up under the previous Conservative government.
Ms Nandy later clarified: “David Kogan is by far one of the most qualified people in football to take up this role. Not only has he negotiated billions in broadcasting rights and advised the Premier League, EFL, UEFA and even the NFL, he was also headhunted by the previous government. If we’re talking about political donations, the Tories had a candidate on the list who gave over £50,000 to their party. So I will take no lectures from the opposite side.”
In defence of the Bill, sports minister Stephanie Peacock assured MPs that UEFA had provided written confirmation that the legislation as drafted does not breach its statutes. “The regulator will be operationally independent of government and cannot exert undue influence on the FA’s ability to govern the game,” she stated.
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Labour MP Chris Evans (Caerphilly) also dismissed concerns of international bans as unfounded. “UEFA would have made a statement if they were seriously opposed. They haven’t. Nor have they objected to similar legislation in Spain or Italy. The threat is a red herring,” he said.
Despite the internal clashes, the Bill marks a landmark moment in the long-running campaign for reform in English football governance. It follows years of fan outcry over club mismanagement, including the collapse of historic clubs and the controversial attempt to launch a European Super League in 2021.
The original version of the Bill was introduced under the Conservative government and hailed as a victory for fans, but Mr Andrew argued the current version “has fundamentally altered to a point where it threatens to do more harm than good.”
The Bill, having cleared the House of Lords, will now proceed to further scrutiny in the Commons. While questions around leadership remain politically charged, the broader goal of reforming English football governance appears firmly on course.
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