Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

English Football: Financial Sustainability

Thursday 18 April 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government has had discussions with Premier League and English Football League on financial stability of football clubs
  • Football Governance Bill introduced to Parliament aims to ensure financial sustainability through proportionate regulation
  • Government committed to working with EFL to protect football fans and address postponement issues

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Several east Midlands clubs, including Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Coventry City, and Leicester City, have faced financial difficulties.

Question

What recent discussions has the government had with the Premier League and English Football League on the financial stability of football clubs? We do not have to look too far across the east midlands to see that clubs such as Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Coventry City and Leicester City have found themselves in some form of difficulty.

Answer from Lucy Frazer

The Football Governance Bill introduced to Parliament last month will help with financial sustainability. It takes a proportionate approach, ensuring the regulator works closely with leagues including the Premier League using an advocacy-first approach.

Answered
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Q2 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The Premier League is worth £7 billion and is a leading league globally.

Question

How do we ensure that we strike a balance so that we do not strangle and over-regulate the best league in the world, the Premier League?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

The legislation takes a proportionate approach. It ensures the regulator works closely with the leagues including the Premier League using an advocacy-first approach.

Answered
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Q3 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The issue of fixtures being cancelled at very short notice has been raised previously.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that we need to keep the momentum going forward on the postponement promise? Will she and the Minister continue to work with the EFL to come up with a solution that works for fans?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

The Government are bringing forward legislation to protect football fans. The Minister has raised this issue with the EFL, and I will talk to him about it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions or solutions for fixture cancellations not provided

How: Working Very Hard Across His Portfolio, Valued Colleague

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