Football Governance Act 2025

Clause 1, page 2, line 4, at end insert— “(c) meets environmental sustainability requirements set out in subsection (3A).”

Clause 1, page 2, line 4, at end insert— “(c) requires regulated clubs to have access to funds that can meet their financial commitments for a six month period.”

Clause 1, page 1, line 4, after second “the”, insert “success and”

Clause 1, page 1, line 4, leave out “sustainability” and insert “growth and success”

Clause 1, page 1, line 4, after second “the” insert “financial”

Clause 1, page 1, line 5, at end insert “within the rules laid down by FIFA, UEFA and the International Olympic Committee, relating to the autonomy of sport from government influence and control.”

Clause 1, page 1, line 5, at end insert— “(1A) Nothing in this Act or the operation of the IFR should compromise the ability of football clubs, competition organisers or national teams to comply with their obligations to, or participate in competitions of, international governing bodies including UEFA and FIFA.”

Clause 1, page 2, line 2, after the first “of” insert “current and prospective”

Clause 1, page 2, line 4, leave out “local”

Clause 1, page 1, line 4, leave out “the sustainability of”

Clause 1, page 2, line 1, leave out subsection (3) and insert— “(3) For the purposes of this Act, English football is sustainable if it—

Clause 1, page 1, line 4, leave out “sustainability” and insert “success”

After Clause 60, insert the following new Clause— “Resolution process and initial procedures

Clause 60, page 49, line 21, after “given” insert “and to the extent that the question or questions for resolution relate to financial distributions, that mediator must be appointed in accordance with the requirements in section (<i>Appointment of mediator</i>) to section (<i>Guidance and review</i>)”

After Clause 60, insert the following new Clause— “Determination process

After Clause 60, insert the following new Clause— “Guidance and review

After Clause 60, insert the following new Clause— “Appeals regime

After Clause 60, insert the following new Clause— “Implementation

After Clause 60, insert the following new Clause— “Appointment of mediator

After Clause 60, insert the following new Clause— “Principles of determination

Clause 6, page 5, line 14, at end insert— “(d) to monitor and promote the reduction of English football’s climate and environmental impacts (referred to in this Act as “the environmental objective”).”

Clause 7, page 5, line 19, at end insert— “(c) is compatible with the Climate Change Act 2008 and secures the long-term environmental sustainability of English football.”

Clause 22, page 15, line 14, leave out “such persons as the IFR considers appropriate” and insert “— (a) all regulated clubs,

Schedule 5, page 99, line 36, at end insert— “(ca) how the club contributes to the economic and social well-being of the local community with which it is associated,”

Clause 3, page 3, line 15, leave out “influence or”

Schedule 5, page 99, line 11, leave out paragraph (ii)

Schedule 5, page 99, line 37, leave out sub-sub-paragraph (d)

Clause 1, page 2, line 4, at end insert— “(3A) In exercising their powers and functions under this Act, the Secretary of State or the IFR may not act in a way which conflicts with any regulations or rules of international football governing bodies.”

Clause 2, page 2, line 16, at end insert— ““international football governing bodies” means FIFA and UEFA and any successor bodies to those organisations;”

Clause 2, page 2, line 31, leave out subsection (3) and insert— “(3) For the purposes of this Act a “specified competition” includes—

Clause 23, page 15, line 31, leave out paragraph (c) and insert— “(c) in the case of a notice given to a club, invite—

Clause 22, page 14, line 33, at end insert “or conduct which it reasonably suspects to be harmful to the interests of the United Kingdom”

Clause 24, page 16, line 20, at end insert— “(c) the club agrees to the commitment, and

Clause 1, page 2, line 4, at end insert— “(c) meets the social responsibility duty set out in section (<i>Social responsibility duty</i>).”

Clause 23, page 15, line 24, leave out paragraph (b)

Clause 1, page 2, line 2, after the first “of” insert “current and prospective”

Schedule 5, page 99, line 38, at end insert— “(2A) The code of practice should include guidance on the appointment of independent non-executive directors and must recommend the appointment of at least two non-executive directors.”

Clause 1, page 1, line 4, leave out subsection (1) and insert— “(1) The purpose of this Act is to protect the financial sustainability and success of English football.

Clause 21, page 14, line 6, at end insert “, and (ii) if the club has a women’s team, ensure the club will meet, or will continue to meet, any licensing criteria applicable to the women’s team and its relevant competitions.”

Clause 23, page 15, line 40, at end insert— “(4A) If the club objects to the proposed condition or variation, the IFR must then give a notice about the proposed condition or variation to the specified competition organiser which organises a specified competition in relation to which a relevant team is operated by the club.

Clause 57, page 47, line 12, leave out “the application relates” and insert “the question or questions for resolution mentioned in subsection (1) relate”

Clause 59, page 48, line 38, leave out “that season” and insert “each season to which the question relates or the questions relate”

Clause 58, page 48, line 12, leave out paragraph (c)

Clause 58, page 48, line 22, at end insert— “(za) set out details of the question or questions for resolution mentioned in section 57(1) to which the application relates,”

Clause 58, page 48, line 27, leave out paragraph (c)

Clause 59, page 48, line 33, after “relates” insert “(or a modified version of one or more of those questions)”

Clause 59, page 48, line 33, leave out “the qualifying football season or seasons” and insert “one or more of the questions for resolution”

Clause 59, page 48, line 41, after “triggered” insert “in relation to the question or questions for resolution”

Clause 59, page 49, line 4, after “triggered” insert “in relation to one or more of the questions for resolution”

Clause 58, page 48, line 23, leave out “the application relates” and insert “that question relates or those questions relate”

Clause 58, page 48, line 7, at end insert— “(za) set out details of the question or questions for resolution mentioned in section 57(1) to which it is intended the application will relate,”

Clause 58, page 48, line 8, leave out “the application relates” and insert “that question relates or those questions relate”

Clause 59, page 48, line 36, leave out “qualifying football season” and insert “question or questions for resolution”

Clause 57, page 47, line 9, after “organisers” insert “or by a regulated club”

Clause 57, page 47, line 29, after “organisers” insert “, or by any regulated club participating in a competition organised by one of those organisers,”

Clause 57, page 47, line 19, leave out from “revenue” to “in” in line 21 and insert “received by one specified competition organiser or regulated club in or in respect of that season compared to the relevant revenue received by that specified competition organiser or regulated club”

Clause 57, page 47, line 38, leave out “five years” and insert “the applicable period (see subsections (7) and (8))”

Clause 57, page 47, line 35, leave out subsection (6) and insert— “(6) Condition 4 is met in relation to a qualifying football season if—

Clause 57, page 47, line 41, at end insert— “(7) Where—

Clause 59, page 49, line 1, after “(c)” insert “has exercised any of the IFR’s other functions under this Act in order to resolve the question or questions for resolution and such question or questions remain unresolved, or”

To move the following Clause— “Alcohol at football grounds

Clause 10, page 7, line 6, at end insert— “(d) an assessment of the impact that the IFR’s activities have had on the price of match tickets.”

Clause 6, page 5, line 14, at end insert— “(d) to ensure that the care and support of people who have developed neurodegenerative conditions linked to their career in English football forms part of any strategy published by the IFR, and to oversee an equitable and fair industry financial scheme to provide care for those people.”

To move the following Clause— “Free to air coverage

To move the following Clause— “Duty not to promote or engage in advertising and sponsorship related to gambling

To move the following Clause— “Financial abuse, mismanagement or fraud: protection etc

To move the following Clause— “Human rights and modern slavery considerations

To move the following Clause— “Protection of assets of regulated clubs

Clause 6, page 5, line 14, at end insert— “(d) to take responsibility for the protection, financial welfare, and safeguarding of current and former players involved in English football who—

To move the following Clause— “Fan representation: mandatory golden share

To move the following Clause— “Duty to address ticketing market practices

To move the following Clause— “Prioritisation of competitions within English football

To move the following Clause— “Correspondence about the IFR

To move the following Clause— “Duty to vet financial investment in football clubs

To move the following Clause— “Player welfare

Clause 2, page 2, line 31, leave out subsection (3) and insert— “(3) For the purposes of this Act a “specified competition” includes—

Clause 6, page 5, line 14, at end insert— “(d) to ensure that the care and support of those who have developed neurodegenerative conditions linked to their career in English football is a central part of its approach to football governance, and to establish and supervise the scheme provided for under section [<i>Neurodegenerative care scheme</i>].”

To move the following Clause— “Neurodegenerative care scheme

Clause 7, page 5, line 27, at end insert— “(d) conflicts with any regulations or rules of international football governing bodies, including FIFA and UEFA.”

To move the following Clause— “Impact on Regulator of changes in Government administration