LCP event highlights challenges ahead for the new Football Regulator, but also a positive shift in industry support

Polling conducted at the culmination of an industry event hosted by LCP’s Sport Analytics and Advisory team showed that 61% of respondents, including football executives, sports lawyers and journalists, view the introduction of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) as a ‘good idea’.

This was a significant increase from an identical poll carried out at the start of the event, in which 51% viewed the introduction of the IFR positively.

Despite this, a significant proportion of respondents continued to express mixed views, falling from 33% in the initial poll to 28% by the end of the event. Those who view its creation as a ‘bad idea’ were very much in the minority, falling slightly from 8% to 7% following the discussions.

The event, held this week, brought together more than 100 industry stakeholders to discuss whether the IFR represents a challenge or an opportunity for the sector. This is as the game adjusts to the Football Governance Act becoming law, the IFR being granted new investigatory powers, and all 116 men’s clubs in the top five leagues being required to apply for licences from the Regulator by the end of this year.

Panellists at the event included the General Counsel for the IFR, David Riley, leading sports barrister Nick De Marco KC, and Chris Anderson, who led the Government team that worked on the Tracey Crouch fan-led review, which recommended the creation of the Regulator.

Key financial, legal, governance and cultural considerations highlighted during the discussions were:

• The ability for the IFR to be challenged in public courts
• The scope of the IFR’s powers in relation to owners and directors of football clubs
• Structural inequalities in football and the IFR’s role in alleviating these

Other topics discussed at the event were:

• The terms of reference for the State of the Game review
• Preparing clubs for the arrival of the IFR and the new licensing regime
• The reasoning for the IFR’s creation

Bart Huby, Partner and Head of Sport Analytics and Advisory at LCP, said: “The poll results are encouraging, particularly given the level of change expected this year. The focus of the discussion is now on how the IFR will operate in practice and what this will mean for clubs and other stakeholders.”

Aaryaman Banerji, Head of Football Governance at LCP, added: “These conversations are happening at a critical moment for the game, with the State of the Game review taking shape and parachute payments under scrutiny. How clubs, owners and other stakeholders engage with these changes over the coming months will be crucial to whether regulation delivers the intended outcomes.”