Parliament is to debate a motion of no confidence in the governance of the Football Association on 9 February.
The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee will address whether the FA can "comply fully with its duties". Whether the FA's structure makes reform impossible will also be examined and the government may be called on to intervene in the matter. In July, sports minister Tracey Crouch said the FA would lose its £30m to £40m of public funding if it did not reform.
Then, in December, Crouch said that the government would bring in legislation to force through reforms if the governing body did not make changes itself. Committee chairman Damian Collins MP revealed on Friday that the FA had been given six months to meet the government guidance on best practice for sports governance but had failed to do so.
Collins said: "We do not believe the FA will comply voluntarily: it can survive easily without the government's contribution of money to grassroots sport, and there are powerful vested interests that refuse to accept the right of all those involved in football to play a role in the governance of the sport. We are therefore preparing a draft bill to bring the structure of the FA, especially its board and council, more into line with modern company practice and the government's guidelines for sports bodies."
The FA have said: "We are aware of the discussions next week. The government announced a code for governance for sports' governing bodies last year and we are working to their timeline for implementation later in the year. Football, like all sports, is following due process and we remain committed to working with the government towards compliance with the code."
(BBC Sport)
This is very interesting indeed. Though not a surprise. FA have failed in their role, and I now expect-or hope-for a major reform in the pyramid. Hopefully grass roots level and upwards can now get the chance to rebuild after being neglected for so long.
The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee will address whether the FA can "comply fully with its duties". Whether the FA's structure makes reform impossible will also be examined and the government may be called on to intervene in the matter. In July, sports minister Tracey Crouch said the FA would lose its £30m to £40m of public funding if it did not reform.
Then, in December, Crouch said that the government would bring in legislation to force through reforms if the governing body did not make changes itself. Committee chairman Damian Collins MP revealed on Friday that the FA had been given six months to meet the government guidance on best practice for sports governance but had failed to do so.
Collins said: "We do not believe the FA will comply voluntarily: it can survive easily without the government's contribution of money to grassroots sport, and there are powerful vested interests that refuse to accept the right of all those involved in football to play a role in the governance of the sport. We are therefore preparing a draft bill to bring the structure of the FA, especially its board and council, more into line with modern company practice and the government's guidelines for sports bodies."
The FA have said: "We are aware of the discussions next week. The government announced a code for governance for sports' governing bodies last year and we are working to their timeline for implementation later in the year. Football, like all sports, is following due process and we remain committed to working with the government towards compliance with the code."
(BBC Sport)
This is very interesting indeed. Though not a surprise. FA have failed in their role, and I now expect-or hope-for a major reform in the pyramid. Hopefully grass roots level and upwards can now get the chance to rebuild after being neglected for so long.
