The Football Governance Bill achieved Royal Assent yesterday [Monday 21st July 2025], providing the legislation for the introduction of an Independent Football Regulator (IFR).
The Regulator is tasked with protecting clubs from unscrupulous and reckless owners, providing fans with a greater voice within the game, and protecting the domestic pyramid from any insurgence of a breakaway European leagues.
After 13 long years of campaigning by fan organisations past and in the present form of the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), the failure of football to regulate itself has led to the Football Governance Act that will grant powers to a Regulatory body, independent from government and football authorities.
The Football Governance Bill, originally tabled in 2024, followed the Fan-led Review into Football Governance (FLR), that came about after the attempted launch of the European Super League by elite clubs. Wide spread protests by fan groups across the country, led to the government of the day promising the review.
What powers will the independent football regulator have?
- New financial regulation to make sure clubs have a long-term sustainable future
- Stronger tests to stop reckless owners
- Instigating a licensing system for clubs
- New standards for fan engagement
- Ban on clubs forming breakaway leagues or closed-shop competitions
- Ensuring fair financial distribution between leagues
- Protections for key club heritage aspects like home shirt colours and club badges and stadium locations.
FSA chief executive Kevin Miles said:
“This is an historic moment for football in this country and we are very proud that the FSA was at the heart of change, helping to bring in laws which can help protect the clubs we love from the worst excesses of owners throughout the professional game.
“We look forward to working with the regulator, as well as the FA and leagues it covers, to ensure that the supporter voice continues to be at the forefront of debate as fans are the beating heart of the game. Club owners can no longer mark their own homework.”
Foxes Trust made contributions to the Fan-led Review, lobbied local MPs for support and has continued to back the work FSA undertook in helping DCMS to draft the Bill. However, the work does not end with the Act becoming law. Fan Groups will need to work with the Regulator to ensure that action is taken immediately to protect clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday from suffering the same fate as Bury FC in 2019.
There has been and remains opposition to the Act, with the Premier League being critical of the need for a regulator, and continuing to claim (despite evidence to the contrary) that football is capable of governing itself. Notable opposition came from some club owners and executives, with West Ham United vice chair Karren Brady telling the House of Lords there were “dangers lurking” in the bill, arguing it would affect competition.
Kieran Maguire, Associate Professor in Football Finance at University of Liverpool, said the legislation will protect clubs from “exploitation”, and the IFR is a necessary safeguard to ensure clubs “are not treated solely as assets”.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:
“This is a huge moment for football fans because we’ve had far too many clubs including mine, Wigan Athletic, at risk from poor ownership and finances.
“This is the moment football fans can breathe a sigh of relief because we are fixing the foundations of football and putting fans back at the heart of the game where they belong.”
Fan Groups have been invited to meet with the Regulator’s interim CEO, Martyn Henderson and Foxes Trust plan to make an application to share its members’ views on fan engagement.
The official launch of the Regulatory body is expected to take place later this year.
Some background on Martyn Henderson is available below