Fair Game Response To White Paper

Last week saw the publication of a White Paper which looks at how football is run.

Fair Game have responded:

The White Paper gets a lot right.  But it’s not perfect.  So, we’ve produced a detailed briefing on the policy proposals, outlining where the White Paper does well and where it could do better. 

We rated eight key components of the Paper:

1. Financial Regulation A*
2. Corporate Governance A
3. Protecting Club Heritage A
4. Improving Supporter Engagement A
5. Owners’ and Directors’ Test B
6. The Powers of the Regulator B
7. Finances and Distribution in Football D
8. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion F

Now that we know an Independent Regulator is coming, it’s time to start campaigning to make sure that it has the powers and the real teeth to deliver the change we all want to see.
 

The Independent Regulator must take control of football’s financial flow and it must also ensure good governance and financial sustainability are properly enforced – an “advocacy-first” approach mooted in the White Paper is too light touch.
It’s also time to re-look at a Transfer Levy as mooted in the original Fan-Led Review to help the grassroots and the lower echelons of the football pyramid.
 

We need an Owners’ and Directors’ Test that is fit and proper, and equality standards that are taken seriously (the White Paper stated they should not be part of the remit of the new Regulator, hence the F).
 

You can take a quick glance at our handy scorecard and read the detailed policy briefing here.

Fair Game clubs have all begun to run articles on their platforms on the White Paper. Here’s one from Carlisle United. Our coverage in national media on the White Paper also continued this week, including a column from Grimsby Town co-owner Jason Stockwood in The Guardian, a letter in The Times, and an extensive podcast with the Byline Times.