FA EQUALITY NOW of which I am Co-Chair supports the fan-led review calling for an independent regulator for the Football Association.

We are taking on the FA, the oldest sporting governing body in the world, because it is archaic and in desperate need of reform. (See more on my YouTube videos.)

The People’s FA invited me to present our review and recommendations to number 10 Downing Street alongside John Stiles son of 1966 World Cup Winner Nobby and Dr. Sally Tucker. See our website www.faequalitynow.com for more information.

The government has backed the work which The People’s FA were asked to present and insists “football requires a strong, independent regulator to secure the future of our national game”.

We say anyone can become a member of the Football Association by signing up which gives you a vote to decide who should be on the 24-person board elected by the general public. We want an end to the closed-door ‘old boy’s network’ which has dominated football in England for so many years you know

The new regulator is a central recommendation of the fan-led review which the government commissioned in April in the wake of the European Super League storm. The key recommendations of the fan-led review are:

An Independent regulator should oversee financial regulation in football
The independent regulator should establish a new ‘fit and proper persons’ test to replace the existing system which would also include an ‘integrity’ test on potential owners and ‘real time’ financial checks
Fans should be consulted on all key off-field decisions through a ‘shadow board’
Equality, diversity and inclusion plans should be mandatory for all clubs
Key items of club heritage should be protected by a ‘golden share’ for fans
A new corporate governance code should be set up
Women’s football should be treated equally and given its own review
Stakeholders should work to increase protection of welfare of players leaving the game
There should be more support from the Premier League to the pyramid through a solidarity transfer levy.

Finally, it is proposed that there should be more support from the Premier League to the pyramid through a solidarity transfer levy.

I would like to wish all our readers a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

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