Football Governance Bill: Second Reading

The Football Governance Bill which followed the Fan led Review chaired by Dame Tracey Crouch was debated at Second Reading on 28 April 2025.

The Bill puts fans at the centre of football and aims, among many others, to establish an Independent Football Regulator (IFR) to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of English football. It will oversee clubs playing in competitions specified by the Secretary of State— starting with the top five English leagues (116 clubs). 

The IFR’s goals are to improve how football is run, protect clubs from financial failure, and preserve the heritage of the game for fans and communities. It will be a light touch regulation but will ensure that the clubs in the lower leagues where many top players start their careers also benefit from the financial and other benefits that swirl around football in the Premier League. 

I signed a letter to the Prime Minister Keir Starmer (pictured below) with 25 other MPs and Lords, urging him to continue his support for the Bill.

A Reasoned Amendment about the regulator was moved, and was lost: Ayes 74, Noes 337.

The House agreed to read the Bill a second time with the result Ayes 342, Noes 70. 

The Bill will now be scrutinised line-by-line in a Public Bill Committee.