FOOTBALL clubs have “a transparent and undeniable duty” to their fans and communities, the Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Pete Wilcox, has said.
He was speaking within the House of Lords last week, throughout the Second Reading debate on the Football Governance Bill, which might establish an independent football regulator.
Dr Wilcox, “a mildly obssessed fan of Newcastle United”, said that discussion in regards to the way forward for football should put fans and communities “centre field”.
He continued: “Fan investment is the lifeblood of the game, and I applaud the Government’s intention to put fans back at the center of the sport. To name only one example, I used to be pleased to see that the Bill will be sure that fans are consulted on changes to ticket prices. I hope the Bill may additionally require football clubs to take their civic responsibilities extremely seriously. These go above and beyond those of charity foundations and extend to local regeneration schemes.”
Dr Wilcox also praised the Bill for recognising “the necessity to protect fans, players, and club staff from costly club closures and the irresponsible mismanagement of club funds”.
He also welcomed the Bill’s requiring football clubs to publish steps they’d taken to enhance equality, diversity, and inclusion. He suggested that such a responsibility ought to be prolonged to publishing how they’d reduced their carbon footprints and moved towards net zero.
Responding for the Government, Baroness Twycross, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said that the Government had “strengthened measures to place fans and communities back at the center of the sport”.
She said that requiring clubs to report on sustainability wouldn’t fall throughout the scope of the football regulator.
