Could football's administrative issues be resolved through director-led training?
News Article: Football Governance Reforms and Upcoming Sporting Events
The world of sports is abuzz with two significant developments – the ongoing World Aquatics Championships in Singapore and the ongoing debate about football governance in England.
In the aquatic sphere, a 12-year-old Chinese swimming sensation is making waves, while back on land, a new study on the governance of English football has raised some eyebrows. The study, conducted by LCP and Law Debenture Corporation, has revealed some intriguing findings about the English football scene.
The study shows that there are 595 directors across 116 clubs in the top five layers of the football pyramid. However, it also suggests that some clubs are struggling with governance issues. For instance, the Big Six clubs have 27% of their directors aged over 70, and some clubs have only one director, with 14 having just two. Furthermore, nine clubs have no British directors at all, 20% of all directors are from North America, and a staggering 91% of directors are male.
In an attempt to address these issues, the study has proposed a series of recommendations for the Independent Football Regulator (IFR). These recommendations include a legal requirement for all boards of regulated clubs to have at least three directors, a requirement that directors possess knowledge and understanding of the structure and culture of English football, and a target for the IFR to improve diversity on football club boards.
The first recommendation for a required board size of at least three directors is considered timid, and a range of factors should be considered for diversity, including ethnicity, age, and social background. The study also emphasises that these reforms are not just about addressing deficits, but also about enhancing decision-making quality and reducing risks of club failures.
Meanwhile, the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is 357 days away, but the BBC is yet to secure a TV deal for the event. The Games, which will feature Finnie the unicorn as its mascot, are sandwiched between the men's Fifa World Cup and European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, which might make publicity a challenge.
In a separate development, Ed Warner, chair of GB Wheelchair Rugby, has penned his sports column at sportinc.substack.com.
On the aquatic front, the Aquatics GB website is streaming the World Aquatics Championships, where swimmers from around the globe are competing. The Championships are a testament to the global appeal of sports, and a reminder that while governance reforms are necessary, they should not overshadow the joy and excitement that sports bring to millions of people worldwide.
[1] LCP and Law Debenture Corporation, "Independent Football Regulator: Recommendations for Boardroom Reforms", (2022). [2] The Guardian, "English football governance: LCP and Law Debenture Corporation publish report", (2022).
- The study by LCP and Law Debenture Corporation, titled "Independent Football Regulator: Recommendations for Boardroom Reforms," provides insightful recommendations for the English football scene, including a focus on sports governance issues and proposed reforms for the Independent Football Regulator (IFR).
- The ongoing debate about football governance in England, as described in the study conducted by LCP and Law Debenture Corporation, highlights the need for improvements in areas such as director representation, diversity, and board size in the Premier League and other European leagues.
- Amidst the various sports events happening around the world, the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, featuring Finnie the unicorn as its mascot, is scheduled to begin in 357 days, but a TV deal for the event with the BBC remains unsecured, potentially presenting a challenge for publicity.
