Football regulator appoints non-executive directors

The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has appointed five non-executive directors – including FSA chief executive Kevin Miles (Editor’s note: Congratulations Kev!).

The secretary of state has also appointed Mark McCafferty, Justine Roberts CBE, Tara Warren and Dr Linda Yueh CBE as non-executive directors to the IFR for a term of five years up to February 2031.

• You can read more about all of the non-executive directors here…

The Football Governance Act achieved Royal Assent in July legislating for the introduction of the IFR, which is in the process of setting up operations. The FSA lobbied for the IFR’s establishment for many, many years.

The regulator is tasked with protecting our clubs from reckless owners, giving supporters a bigger voice in the game, improving heritage safeguards and ensuring domestic clubs cannot enter any breakaway European Super League.

What is in IFR scope?

• The top five leagues (116 clubs);
• Financial regulation and distribution (via “backstop” mechanism);
• Strengthened owners and directors tests;
• Fan engagement requirements;
• Corporate governance code;
• Protections for club heritage;
• “Prohibited competitions” (e.g. domestic club involvement in a European Super League)

What is NOT in IFR scope?

• Clubs outside the top five leagues;
• Women’s football;
• TV / fixture / match scheduling;
• Profit and Sustainability Rules / Squad Cost Ratio / Financial Fair Play (FFP);
• Sporting sanctions;
• Ticket prices and customer service (although supporters are entitled to bring these issues up via supporter engagement consultations).

The FSA is by fans, for fans – join for free here…