Member Article

Labour Party aims to strengthen the voice of football fans

The Labour Party will introduce laws giving football supporters power to appoint or remove two club directors and buy shares when the clubs change ownership, should they assume office following the election.

Ed Miliband made the promise as part of the recently launched Labour manifesto, which also reiterated Labour’s promise to review fan ownership in other sports as well as football.

Fan ownership is normal for many European football clubs although with more and more Premier League clubs falling under overseas ownership it seems difficult to imagine the model prevailing in England.

In relation to football, the manifesto read: “Football clubs are an important part of many people’s identity and sense of belonging.

“They are more than just businesses. But despite their importance in the lives of their members and supporters, too often there are no effective means for fans to have a say in how their clubs are run.

“Labour will provide the means for supporters to be a genuine part of their clubs. We will introduce legislation to enable accredited supporters trusts to appoint and remove at least two of the directors of a football club and to purchase shares when the club changes hands.”

The Football Supporters’ Federation welcomed Labour ideals, saying: “The Football Supporters’ Federation welcomes any proposals from political parties that aim to strengthen the voice of football fans.

“Whether its ticket prices, ownership, diversity, or safe standing, supporters must be involved in reform of the game. Football fans should have a voice in the boardroom.”

Labour also issued a promise to provide two hours of organised sport in schools as well as wanting Premier League clubs to invest 5% of the new bumper broadcast revenue back into grassroots funding.

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