Football Regulator One Step Closer Following Vote

MPs have voted in favour of the Football Governance Bill, endorsing the creation of an independent regulator to oversee men's football across England's top five divisions. The Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons with a vote of 415 to 98 and is now set to become law.

The proposed legislation will empower a new body that operates independently of both the government and football authorities. The government has stated that the regulator is intended to “protect football clubs” by “ensuring their financial sustainability”.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed her support for the legislation, saying:
"I am proud to be part of the winning team that has put our fans back on the pitch at the heart of the game, where they belong."

Initially introduced in March 2024 by the then-Conservative government, the Bill did not complete its passage through Parliament before the general election in May. The incoming Labour government reintroduced the legislation in July 2024.

Addressing supporters ahead of the vote, Nandy told the Commons:
"We are doing this for you because for too long, you have been treated as an afterthought at best or a nuisance at worst in a game that is only great because of you.
This is for Macclesfield, for Wigan, for Bury, for Bolton, for Derby, for Reading, for Sheffield Wednesday, for Morecambe and for many, many more who have had to endure the misery of being put last when they should have been put first."

However, Shadow Minister for Sport Louie French MP criticised the legislation, stating that "a future Conservative government will trigger a review of Labour's regulator as soon as possible."

Campaign group Fair Game welcomed the Bill's passage through the Commons, describing it as "a historic step forward for our national game."
"This is a victory for fairness, sustainability and the future of football... Now, at long last, we are firmly on the path to a fairer future for football," the group added.

MPs Reject Proposals on Free-to-Air Games and Alcohol in Stands

MPs voted down a Liberal Democrat proposal that would have required at least 10 Premier League matches per season to be shown on free-to-air television. The proposed amendment also sought to make the League Cup final and the play-off finals for the Championship, League One, and League Two available free-to-air.

In the UK, a selection of major sporting events—known as the 'crown jewels'—must be made accessible without subscription. These include the football World Cup, European Championships, and the FA Cup final. Premier League matches, however, have been behind a paywall since the league’s inception 33 years ago, with the exception of several games shown on the BBC during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock responded:
"The government believes that the current list of events works well, and it strikes an appropriate balance between access to sporting events and allowing sports to maximise broadcasting revenue.
We all want to see more matches being televised, free-to-air, but that must be balanced against investment and not risk it."

The Liberal Democrats argued that current subscription fees are prohibitively expensive, citing analysis that fans would need to pay £660 annually to watch every available Premier League match live next season.
Lib Dem Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson Max Wilkinson MP said his party was "deeply disappointed" by the outcome.

Recent data shows a 10% decline in Premier League viewership on Sky Sports last season, with TNT Sports experiencing a 17% year-on-year drop. However, from next season, ITV will broadcast 10 live Championship games free-to-air under a new agreement with the EFL and Sky Sports.

MPs also rejected a Conservative proposal to launch a formal consultation on lifting the longstanding ban on alcohol consumption in the stands at matches in England’s top five men’s divisions with Sports Minister Peacock saying they rejected it as it was “outside the scope of the Bill, which is focused on sustainability of clubs and game overall.”  The amendment proposing a compensation scheme for former players suffering from dementia also fell outside the Bill’s regulatory remit.