The creation of an independent regulator moved a step closer on Tuesday as the legislation to establish it was introduced to Parliament.
Here the PA news agency takes a closer look.
How have we got here?The collapse of Bury in the summer of 2019 prompted the Conservatives to include a fan-led review of football governance in their General Election manifesto. The review commenced in April 2021, in the immediate wake of the Super League scandal, and recommended the creation of an independent regulator. The Government published a White Paper in February last year and finally the legislation has been introduced to Parliament in the form of the Football Governance Bill.
What will the regulator’s key objectives be?To ensure clubs are run sustainably, that there is financial resilience across leagues, and that fans are properly consulted on club heritage matters.
How will it work?Clubs in the top five tiers of English football will need to be licensed to operate and enter competitions. There will be mandatory licensing conditions around the submission of financial plans and fan engagement, and tailored conditions on top where appropriate to the club concerned. The Government insists well-run clubs will have nothing to fear.
What will it do to tackle unsuitable owners?The regulator will operate a strengthened owners and directors’ test (ODT) with statutory powers, giving it greater ‘teeth’ than similar tests currently operated by the football authorities. It will have access to agencies and branches of Government enabling the regulator to carry out enhanced due diligence on adequacy and source of funds, and will require clubs as a condition of licence to declare who their ultimate owner is.
Owners and directors deemed unsuitable will be subject to a ‘removal direction’ giving them a period of time to leave the role, and placed under restrictions on the control they can exert. Where owners do not comply, the regulator will have the power to force them to sell (divest).
Existing owners and directors can be subject to the test where the regulator is in possession of information giving it grounds for concern.
What other powers will the regulator have?The regulator will adopt an ‘advocacy-first’ approach but the toughest tools at its disposal will be the ability to fine clubs 10 per cent of turnover for serious failures and even revoke a club’s licence – though there would be safeguards around that step, including that revocation could not take effect until the end of the season.
The expectation would be that forcing owners to divest would be pursued before revoking a club’s licence. The regulator will not issue sporting sanctions such as points deductions.
How will it stop clubs joining breakaway leagues?There will be ‘freestanding requirements’ for regulated clubs, one of which concerns entry into prohibited competitions – ones which are deemed not fair or meritocratic and which would jeopardise existing competitions. The regulator would be required to consult the Football Association and any others considered appropriate before prohibiting a competition.
Will the regulator be in charge of financial rules governing the Premier League and the EFL?No. The regulator will not interfere in regulations such as the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) or the squad cost controls that are set to replace PSR, but will serve as a safety net.
What role can the regulator play in resolving the funding stand-off between the Premier League and the EFL?The regulator will have backstop powers. One of the parties (Premier League or EFL) would need to apply to trigger them, and the regulator can only trigger them if it feels one of its key objectives around financial sustainability and resilience cannot be delivered without doing so.
Further mediation will follow and if still no agreement is reached, the parties will submit their final proposals and an independent expert panel will determine which is most suitable.
When will the regulator be up and running?The timescales remain unclear. Lucy Frazer, secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said she expected the legislation to pass through Parliament before the end of the current session. That ends when a General Election is called – which could be any time until January 2025.
Who will pay for it?The regulator will be funded by a levy on the regulated clubs, which will vary depending on the size of the club. Government sources indicated the regulator’s annual budget would be £10million, and it is anticipated Premier League clubs would cover approximately 80 per cent.
Vilahamn wants to use FA Cup final defeat as 'beginning' for Tottenham Women
Tottenham Women manager Robert Vilahamn believes his side will use their FA Cup final defeat to start something special, rather than ending their good work.
Spurs were hammered 4-0 by Manchester United Women in Sunday's Wembley Stadium showpiece as Ella Toone and Rachel Williams were on target before Lucia Garcia's second-half double.
Vilahamn's side failed to manage a shot on target but the Spurs boss suggested his team will catch up to the women's elite clubs.
"The main thing I said was this is not the end, it is the beginning," Vilahamn said.
"We still have a gap between us and the top teams but that's normal. We are closing the gap but we haven't closed the gap yet."
Tottenham finished sixth in the Women's Super League as well as reaching this final, their first FA Cup showpiece appearance in their short history.
Vilahamn wants his Spurs players to use this defeat as motivation going forward.
"If you take away the feelings right now, you need to look at these players doing some incredible things this year," he said.
"We are at Wembley playing in front of our fans and they are actually enjoying it and staying, and supporting us after.
"We got a good experience today and we are learning how to play at Wembley more times. We need to look at it that way because the players are amazing."
Erik ten Hag: Man United fans are understanding of situation
Erik ten Hag is confident he still has the understanding of supporters after Manchester United's poor run of form continued with defeat to Arsenal.
United were beaten 1-0 by Premier League title chasers Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday in a game that saw them create little.
While United did well to restrict Arsenal's chances, they had just two shots on target themselves - long-rangers from Casemiro and Antony.
The Red Devils have had to contend with a number of injury problems this season, not least against Arsenal with a makeshift defence fielded.
And for that reason, Ten Hag - whose job beyond this season has been called into question - believes the fanbase remain supportive.
"They understand where we are and where this club is," he told Sky Sports. "We have so many injuries in key areas.
"The fans don't get what they deserve, but they understand this and that is why they are behind the team.
"I think that is why they are with us we are united. Hopefully we can pay them back in the future."
Ten Hag pointed out that United were without seven possible starters, forcing him to field veteran Jonny Evans alongside Casemiro at centre-back.
Casemiro was at fault for Arsenal's goal as he was slow getting back up the field, meaning Havertz was onside before teeing up Trossard.
Ten Hag, though, was not willing to point the finger of blame at the underperforming midfielder.
"In that situation he is a midfielder playing in that position and making a small mistake, but it has hard consequences," he said.
"Before that, in possession we could have done better in others positions. It's details."
Eighth-placed United have won just one of their past eight league matches in a run that includes a 4-0 thumping at Crystal Palace earlier in the week.
The Red Devils have lost 19 games in all competitions this season, which is their most since 1977-78 when also losing 19.
Asked if he believes he is the man to turn things around, Ten Hag said: "I have no doubt about this.
"Mostly, this team has the right spirit and they execute the rules and principles of the game even if they have to adapt in their positions.
"I can only be happy and it is a big compliment for this team that they executed all that they could and they were fighting."
Manchester United Women 4-0 Tottenham Women: Garcia double secures Red Devils' first FA Cup triumph
Manchester United Women banished last year's FA Cup demons to lift the trophy for the first time in their history after smashing Tottenham Women 4-0 at Wembley Stadium.
United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea Women in the final of this competition last term but exacted revenge after Lucia Garcia scored twice in a comfortable win on Sunday.
Ella Toone's eye-catching strike in the first half set the tone before a goal for Rachel Williams and Garcia's double added gloss to a convincing scoreline, despite Beth England hitting the crossbar for Spurs.
Marc Skinner's side dominated the opening half as Millie Turner saw a header cleared off the line by Martha Thomas, while Williams headed over.
However, there was no stopping Toone on the stroke of half-time as she exchanged passes with Lisa Naalsund before arrowing a rocketed right-footed finish into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Further punishment followed for an underwhelming Tottenham after the interval when Williams headed down from Katie Zelem's free-kick to double United's lead in the 54th minute.
Goalkeeper Becky Spencer then handed Skinner's team more joy just three minutes later, mindlessly playing straight to Garcia, who slotted into an empty net.
Garcia capped the scoring after 74 minutes, receiving an offload from Turner before curling a delightful finish past the powerless Spencer as United secured their first major trophy in club history.
Data Debrief: United ease pain of last year
United fell short last year against Chelsea but continued their impressive record against Spurs here, extending to 13 games unbeaten against Tottenham since being founded in 2018.
This defeat will remain painful for Spurs in their first FA Cup final appearance, also ending a seven-game undefeated streak since losing to rivals Arsenal at the start of March.
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