ID :
198174
Sat, 07/30/2011 - 09:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/198174
The shortlink copeid
English Football Association needs urgent reform, say MPs
London, July 30, IRNA – A major parliamentary report on Friday called for “big changes” to be made in the way football is run in England to address financial instability and levels of debt in the game, and to secure the future of the country's most popular sport.
The all-party Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee said that crucially, reform must be undertaken without impinging on English football’s many strengths.
“The Football Association (FA) as the national governing body of English football is the most appropriate agency to take the lead in addressing the weaknesses of English football, but it needs urgent reform itself to carry out its responsibilities effectively,” the report warned.
Committee chair John Whittingdale said no one doubts the success of the Premier League in revitalising English football, “but it has been accompanied by serious financial problems throughout the football league pyramid.”
“Significant changes need to be made to the way the game is run to secure the future of England’s unique football heritage, and the economic and community benefits it provides,” Whittingdale said.
“The FA is the organisation for the job, but it has some way to go getting its own house in order before it can tackle the problems in the English game, and address the future,” he said.
Although the Premier league has become the richest and most cosmopolitan national football competition in the world, it has been allowed to flourish with little regulation allowing a growing army of often dubious foreign owners and accounts held and without scrutiny in tax havens.
It has also led to the growing influence of agents causing uncontrolled transfer fees that has left the majority of clubs deeply indebted and the increased power of players demanding exorbitant wages while acting as virtual mercenaries.
The report called first of all for a reformed FA to oversee and underpin a rigorous and consistent club licensing system and robust rules on club ownership, which should be transparent to supporters.
“Almost all our recommendations could be achieved without legislation, through co-operation and agreement between the football authorities, and we urge them to respond positively with an agreed strategy and timetable for change,” Whittingdale said.
“Legislation should be considered only as a last resort in the absence of substantive progress,” he said.
The committee recommended imposing a rigorous and consistent formal licensing model throughout professional English football to promote sustainable forward-looking business plans and underpin self-regulation measures introduced by the Premier League and the Football League, and financial fair play regulations being introduced by UEFA.”
It also called for “a strong fit and proper persons test” to be consistently applied for owners, with a presumption against selling the ground unless it is in the club’s interest./end
The all-party Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee said that crucially, reform must be undertaken without impinging on English football’s many strengths.
“The Football Association (FA) as the national governing body of English football is the most appropriate agency to take the lead in addressing the weaknesses of English football, but it needs urgent reform itself to carry out its responsibilities effectively,” the report warned.
Committee chair John Whittingdale said no one doubts the success of the Premier League in revitalising English football, “but it has been accompanied by serious financial problems throughout the football league pyramid.”
“Significant changes need to be made to the way the game is run to secure the future of England’s unique football heritage, and the economic and community benefits it provides,” Whittingdale said.
“The FA is the organisation for the job, but it has some way to go getting its own house in order before it can tackle the problems in the English game, and address the future,” he said.
Although the Premier league has become the richest and most cosmopolitan national football competition in the world, it has been allowed to flourish with little regulation allowing a growing army of often dubious foreign owners and accounts held and without scrutiny in tax havens.
It has also led to the growing influence of agents causing uncontrolled transfer fees that has left the majority of clubs deeply indebted and the increased power of players demanding exorbitant wages while acting as virtual mercenaries.
The report called first of all for a reformed FA to oversee and underpin a rigorous and consistent club licensing system and robust rules on club ownership, which should be transparent to supporters.
“Almost all our recommendations could be achieved without legislation, through co-operation and agreement between the football authorities, and we urge them to respond positively with an agreed strategy and timetable for change,” Whittingdale said.
“Legislation should be considered only as a last resort in the absence of substantive progress,” he said.
The committee recommended imposing a rigorous and consistent formal licensing model throughout professional English football to promote sustainable forward-looking business plans and underpin self-regulation measures introduced by the Premier League and the Football League, and financial fair play regulations being introduced by UEFA.”
It also called for “a strong fit and proper persons test” to be consistently applied for owners, with a presumption against selling the ground unless it is in the club’s interest./end
