Why I Back the Football Governance Bill For A Fairer Future for Football

 This week in Parliament, I had the opportunity to speak in support of the Football Governance Bill at its Second Reading—legislation that I believe is long overdue and vital to securing the future of our national game.

As a member of both the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Football and the APPG on Women’s Football, I’ve spent a lot of time working with others to protect and improve the game at every level. I’ve also attended briefings from organisations like Fair Game, who are doing valuable work to make football more transparent and sustainable.

There’s wide support for the idea of an independent football regulator—not just across political parties, but also from the EFL, the Football Supporters’ Association, and even parts of the Premier League. It’s clear that the current model isn’t working, and this Bill is a chance to put things right.

Football is central to our identity and community life, from the 14 million people playing at grassroots level (myself still included!) to the 40,000+ clubs that bring people together across the country every week. But too many clubs are under financial pressure, and in some cases, on the brink. Reading FC, the nearest EFL club to Newbury, is a stark example of what happens when there’s too little accountability and too much short-term thinking.

This Bill addresses that. It puts the focus where it should be—on financial sustainability, responsible ownership, and proper fan engagement. Had those protections already been in place, Reading FC and many others might not be in such difficulty.

The Bill has already been improved since it was introduced, with welcome amendments around declaring interests, giving fans and players more of a voice, and recognising a club’s wider social and economic value to its community. But we must go further.

We cannot allow clubs to be hollowed out—selling off training grounds, stadiums, or even their trophy cabinets to meet financial targets. Clubs may be owned by individuals, but they belong to their communities. Fans are not just customers; they are the beating heart of the game.

We’ve seen unintended consequences of financial rules before—like clubs offloading academy players or women’s teams to balance the books. We must make sure this legislation doesn’t repeat those mistakes.

Some have raised concerns that regulation could push up ticket prices. But the Bill already includes a legal right for fans to be consulted on pricing. I believe we should go further and explore fairer approaches—dynamic pricing, concessions, and a better deal for away fans. And we need to make it easier for fans to own a meaningful stake in their clubs.

While the Bill doesn’t yet cover the women’s game, the Secretary of State has the power to change that—and I’ll be pushing for clarity on when and how that could happen. Financial decisions made in the men’s game are already affecting women's and girls’ ability to access football.

This Bill is about securing the future of football—for fans, for players, and for communities like ours. I support it, and I’ll keep working in the Committee to make sure it’s as strong, inclusive, and future-proof as it needs to be.