King’s Speech: UK government revives plan for new football regulator

The pledge was made in the King’s speech today laying out the new Labour government’s legislative priorities.

The Bill was first introduced by the previous Conservative government in March 2024, but fell in May when the general election was called, as it had not completed all the necessary stages of the parliamentary process.

The primary purpose of the bill is to establish a new independent football regulator (IFR) in English football to “ensure that English football is sustainable and resilient for the benefit of fans and the local communities football clubs serve”. The IFR’s objectives will be focussed on promoting the financial soundness of the whole pyramid of English professional football.

It will also have powers to impose a solution where leagues are unable to reach an agreement on distribution to lower leagues of revenue from televised matches.

Speaking ahead of the Kings Speech, culture secretary Lisa Nandy said the creation of a new football regulator was "a top priority for me in this job".

The initial debates on the Bill in Parliament in April and May demonstrated that it has broad cross-party support. However, the position taken by Labour when in opposition suggests it is likely to make some minor changes to the Bill.

Sports law expert Gabrielle Armstrong of Pinsent Masons said: “We can expect to see changes to the Bill reflecting the issues which Labour championed before the election. The two main issues were increasing fan engagement with the work of the IFR, and extending its powers to review arrangements on distribution of broadcast revenue by potentially including so-called ‘parachute payments’ that are made to clubs for a set period after they are relegated to a lower league.”

Public law and legislation expert David Thorneloe of Pinsent Masons said: “Subject to any changes being made, this Bill is likely to be one that can be swiftly pulled off the shelf and introduced by this government. Given the previous parliamentary scrutiny that was completed before the election, and the broad support the Bill received, it is also likely to move swiftly through its parliamentary stages, so that it becomes law before the end of the 2024-25 football season.”