Posted on 24th July 2024
Round-up: FSA AGM 2024
Football fans from across the country gathered together on Saturday 20th July at Wembley Stadium for the FSA’s 2024 AGM.
Supporters discussed the organisation’s work throughout the year and proposed new policies on a range of issues affecting match-going fans.
Summary
Minutes from the June 2023 AGM held in Manchester, were accepted by delegates while resolutions to receive and adopt the annual review and financial statements for the year ending 31st December 2023 were passed unanimously.
Constitutional amendment
Delegates approved an amendment to the FSA Constitution that allows elections to
be run outside of an AGM unanimously. The amendment can be read in full in the AGM pack.
Motions
The meeting considered the following motions for new areas of FSA policy:
Motion one – Women’s Voice in the Men’s Game
Proposed by: vicki Connell, Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Trust
Seconded by: Frankie Harrington, Her Game Too and FSA National Council
We would like the members to acknowledge the importance of the work being done by the Women’s Voice in the Men’s Game subgroup to support and encourage representation of women fans at all levels of the game and supporters’ movement and acknowledge the need for existing supporter groups in the men’s game to consider the need for gender diversity on their boards and committees.
We would also like a commitment from the organisation to the development, training and support of existing and emerging women’s supporters’ groups.
Vote – Motion carried unanimously
Motion two – Continued action to address the increasing risk of challenges to the sporting integrity and competitive balance of our game
Proposed by: Spirit of Shankly
Seconded by: Hammers United
The AGM Notes:
In June it was announced that Manchester City are legally challenging the Premier League arguing that the league’s Associated Party Transactions rules were unlawful and anti-competitive.
The outcome of the hearing is due later this year.
The rules regarding Associated Party transactions are designed to ensure that club owners cannot use their vast wealth to inflate sponsorship deals and manipulate transfer dealings, leading to higher revenue with a consequent increase in spending power and an ability to get around Financial Fair Play restrictions. The Premier League would argue that the objective is to maintain competitive balance.
The fact that the league’s ability to manage its competitive balance and sporting integrity is now at risk should be of concern to all football fans.
The spending gap between the top and bottom teams has increased considerably in recent years from between three to four times differential to more than five times. The latest challenge could mean that the gap could further increase.
This could mean that as clubs scramble to remain competitive they are forever looking to increase ticket prices as they cite a need to ‘keep up’. It will also further increase the gap between clubs that seek to be self-sustaining and those that can rely on unlimited investment from their ownership models. Worst case is that some clubs could actually be at risk of failure meaning impact on the club, its fans and the local community in which they reside.
Whilst the introduction of an Independent Regulator would be an improvement on current governance, the proposals in the Football Governance Bill published in April 2024 did not allow its remit to cover the regulatory rules of the leagues themselves.
It is therefore vital that fans of all of our clubs fight to retain the competitive balance and sporting integrity of our game and challenge any club or clubs which put that at risk.
The AGM calls for the following actions:
For the FSA to:
– Continue its work to encourage the introduction of an Independent Football Regulator and for the regulator to have a duty to consider competitive balance
– To work with relevant football authorities to support the maintenance of clear and concise rules regarding Associated Party Transactions and other inter group transactions such as player trading and selling of assets such as training grounds
– To work with fan groups to challenge clubs whose actions call into question the sporting integrity of our game and to call for those who seek to challenge the competitive opportunities for other clubs
– To work with the football authorities to encourage further rulebook and regulatory changes that would ensure competitive balance between all clubs in the Premier League.
Vote – Motion carried unanimously
Motion three – VAR matchday experience
Proposed by: Wolves 1877 Trust
Seconded by: Arsenal Supporters Trust, Tottenham Hotspur Trust
The proposers recognise that VAR is impacting on match going supporters experience and whilst noting planned PGMOL improvements for season 2024/25 the FSA will continue to campaign for further ‘in stadium’ improvements to be mandated by the Premier League.
Whilst we recognise that Premier League clubs have voted overwhelmingly to retain VAR, the FSA maintains its position that VAR has impacted negatively on match going supporters, in doing so it has highlighted that many stadiums remain ill equipped to communicate effectively with supporters in ‘real time’ as VAR decisions are made.
Whilst match day ticket prices continue to increase, technological advancements to improve the ‘in stadium’ experience, has fallen short of our minimum expectations. The FSA will continue to campaign for stadium improvements to enhance the match going experience:
a. A clear set of Premier League protocols covering what must be displayed, announced, and replayed as part of a ‘match delayed VAR review’. b. The FSA support the transition towards live ‘in stadium’ referee communications and video replays.
c. The FSA will continue dialogue with both the PGMOL and Premier League to ensure that best practice both within football, and other comparable sports, is adopted by the Premier League.
d. Minimum standards of wi-fi connectivity across all Premier League Stadiums.
e. The provision of large screens that can be seen by the majority of attending spectators.
Context:
Premier League VAR protocols
The Premier League members handbook is deficient regarding protocols around the announcement and replay of incidents. The PGMOL is clear in stating that it provides information, and video, to clubs in a timely manner. We have the ongoing situation where clubs choose, at their own discretion, which replays to show (normally favouring the home side) and that the current announcements/messages are poorly communicated.
We believe it is incumbent upon the Premier League to develop a clear set of detailed protocols covering in stadium communications, agreed with the PGMOL, and visible to all match going supporters.
We believe that live ‘in stadium’ match official communications, supported by video replays, is a key element of improving match going supporters’ experience of VAR and will campaign for IFAB and PGMOL to introduce this change without delay.
We believe that to some degree the implementation of VAR has been done in isolation by the Premier League and that areas of best practice seen across other governing bodies, and within comparable sports, has not been implemented within the Premier League. We will continue dialogue with relevant parties to highlight these areas in communications and meetings.
Wi Fi Connectivity
Wi Fi connectivity across many Premier League clubs is inadequate, the Premier League has done nothing to ensure that stadiums are fit for purpose in this respect.
Wi-Fi creates many opportunities for clubs to communicate with supporters via apps, it can also facilitate future advancements such as video streaming of key VAR incidents and ‘in match’ referee communications. The Premier League has done little to introduce innovation in this area, whilst millions have been spent on the VAR system, little has been spent ‘in stadium’ to improve communication with match going fans.
Benchmarking of wi-fi connectivity should be carried out by the Premier League and a universal standard adopted across all Premier League stadiums.
It should also be noted that good quality wi-fi connectivity can be a significant benefit to those with medical conditions and disabilities. An example being the need for continual monitoring as part of a diabetic control program – https://www.landmobile.co.uk/content/news/tottenham-hotspur-stadiums-world class-connectivity/
Match Going supporters should not be relying on communications via 3rd parties (friends and family at home, or TV streams) to understand VAR decisions.
Provision of large screens
For many supporters, the provision of large screens is a minimum requirement when attending large events such as music concerts and sporting events. Premier League stadiums in England are similarly equipped, although in many instances the technology lags the ‘state of the art’, the location of screens is such that not all supporters have visibility of the screens, this is a particular issue for away fans.
Again, the Premier League has done little to ensure our stadiums are fit for purpose, we believe it is incumbent upon the Premier League to issue protocols in respect of both Wi Fi connectivity and video screens.
We recognise the challenges of installing wi-fi and large screens but do not accept that it is beyond the capabilities of organisations with multi-million pound budgets.
Millions have been spent on VAR technology at Stockley Park, and within stadiums, this is not reflected in the implementation of VAR for the benefit of match going supporters. Whilst the PGMOL continue to strive to improve the implementation of VAR, the Premier League has not embraced the challenges of in stadium communication, supporters are paying ‘top dollar’ to attend matches, it is reasonable for us to expect that stadiums are fit for purpose.
Vote – The motion was passed with five abstentions.
Motion four – Young children and attendances at live matches
Proposed by: Fulham Lillies
Seconded by: Women of the Lane, Wolves 1877 Trust, Spirit of Shankly
The AGM Notes:
The huge progress made in recent years to make football more welcoming and accessible to all regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and gender. However, there remains a number of issues with regards young children and their parents/caregivers attending live football matches.
This includes ticketing, bag policies, facilities such as baby changing, breastfeeding, pram and buggy storage.
That the Fulham Lillies have published a report “You’re Not Welcome Anymore”, which highlights the issues faced by supporters wishing to take young children to football matches as well as highlighting the mental health benefits to parents and caregivers in attending matches after the birth of a child.
The AGM calls for the following actions:
For the FSA to:
Support the work being done by the Fulham Lillies to create a charter in order to secure meaningful change for parents and caregivers wishing to attend live football matches with children under 5. For the FSA to commit to take this up with governing bodies, the Premier League, EFL and individual Clubs.
Vote – The motion was passed unanimously but with an acceptance from the meeting that the Chair will ensure the Women’s Super League and Championship are included in discussions.
Motion five – Co-ordinated action on the cost of football tickets
Proposed by: Spirit of Shankly
Seconded by: Arsenal Supporters Trust, Manchester United Supporters Trust, Hammers United, Nottingham Forest Supporters Trust, Wolves 1877 Supporters Trust, 1894 Group, Talking Cherries
This AGM notes:
That despite the cost-of-living crisis and football clubs earning ever more income from broadcast and commercial income, the cost of football tickets increased at most clubs this year.
That many clubs are abolishing or reducing concessionary tickets penalising loyal senior fans and pricing out young fans who are the future of the game. Where concessions are being retained, they are often in the least accessible, cheapest seats.
That Steph Peacock, who is now Minister for Sport, proposed an amendment to the Conservative government’s Football Governance Bill that would have added ticket prices to the fan engagement standards, against which clubs would be judged
This AGM expresses concern that clubs are exploiting the loyalty of fans who cannot switch their ‘brand allegiance’ as customers can in other sectors and that we are also seeing a gradual reduction in season ticket and general admission numbers in favour of a growing number of hospitality and one-off admissions.
This AGM calls on the FSA:
To establish a ticketing action plan that includes the following activity;
- To devise and a deliver a national education and awareness plan that promotes this issue across the football world and to key audiences
- To further devise and support the implementation of local campaign activity and match day protests on ticket pricing appropriate to the specific needs at individual clubs
- To press for fan input on ticket pricing to be a key part of the fan engagement work undertaken by Fan Advisory Boards and for the Premier League to ensure these standards are met
- To call for the new independent football regulator to have involvement in ticketing pricing including reporting on this activity in its state of football report and ensuring that fans have genuine input in their club’s ticketing policy through the structured engagement it will oversee
- To undertake a review of concessionary rates across the game including running a ‘league wide tracker’ and to bring forward proposals for the adoption of minimum standards across the game. This should keep concessionary ticket prices in most price bands across grounds, not in ghettos
- To seek the establishment of a minimum percentage of Season Ticket and General Admission tickets at all grounds.
Vote – The motion was passed with three abstentions and an adjustment to the wording (and the inclusion of the EFL) which would read under the third bullet point: “the FSA to take a position of strategic affordability” and further under the third bullet point: “all relevant leagues”
Motion six – Opposing domestic football matches being played overseas
Proposed by Arsenal Supporters Trust (AST)
Seconded by: Cherries Trust, Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), Pompey Trust, Spirit of Shankly, Wrexham Supporters Trust
Conference notes that there have recently been a number of calls by various club owners and commercial organisations for English domestic football matches to be played overseas; further notes that FIFA has set up a working group to recommend potential rule changes to the current FIFA Regulations Governing International Matches.
Believes that any decision to move competitive domestic games overseas will have a detrimental effect on fans of clubs and the local communities they serve and that such a move would be a threat to the heritage and traditions of the game. Moving games to long distance, far away locations will also place increased pressure on the environment and the workload faced by professional footballers.
The FSA is requested to undertake the following activity:
- Make representations to the FIFA working group against allowing competition organisers and clubs to move their domestic matches to international jurisdictions
- Use their structured dialogue processes with the FA, Premier League and EFL to oppose these proposals including asking each organisation to state their position on these FIFA proposals and any plans they have to move matches in their competitions overseas
- Work with the Government and Department for Culture, Media and Sport to promote the swift return of legislation to establish an independent football regulator that would include robust measures for fans to have a meaningful say to block proposals to relocate domestic games overseas
Vote – The motion was passed unanimously with the addition, as per Motion Four, of the Women’s Super League and Championship included.
Election: Chair
Tom Greatrex received an affirmative vote at the AGM confirming him in the role of FSA chair for three years until the AGM in 2027.
National Council: network elections
The following were elected to the FSA National Council for three years (until AGM 2027) by their respective networks:
Chris Paouros (Proud Lilywhites) – Fans For Diversity network
Rachel Major (The Gang ENG) – Women’s Game network
Matthew Kempson (North Ferriby FC) – National Game network
Tim Hillyer (AFC Wimbledon) Community-owned Clubs network
Ciaran Barker (Wolves 1877 Trust) – Premier League network
Adam Willerton (Leeds United Supporters Trust) – Championship network
James Young (Robins Trust) – League 1 & 2 network
National Council: Associate tier
Paul Rigby (Everton Fan Advisory Board) was elected to serve a three year term.
There is an alteration to the results read out on the day for the Associate and Individual elections. After a review of the votes cast it was found that one vote had been incorrectly discounted in the Associate tier which affected the overall result.
National Council: Individual members
Kristine Green and Alan Lau were elected to the remaining three-year terms.
