MPs Establish Independent Regulator for England Men's Football

The UK Parliament has overwhelmingly approved the Football Governance Bill, establishing an independent regulator to oversee the top five tiers of men's football in England. The regulator will operate independently of the government and football authorities to ensure clubs are run sustainably and accountable to fans, with powers to impose financial settlements between the Premier League and the English Football League if needed. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy emphasized that the legislation fulfills a manifesto promise to protect clubs from mismanagement and put fans at the heart of the game, citing clubs like Bury, Wigan Athletic, and Sheffield Wednesday as examples of those harmed by past neglect. The bill was first introduced by the Conservative government in 2024 but only passed after being reintroduced by the Labour government, which framed it as a long-overdue measure to safeguard the future of football. Despite broad support, some Conservatives criticized the bill and pledged to review the regulator if they return to power. Football campaign group Fair Game hailed the legislation as a historic advance toward fairness and sustainability in English football.