Football Governance Act 2025: Implementation

Lord Blunkett Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The Football Governance Act 2025 was put in place exactly to address the issues that the noble Lord identifies. As I said in my initial Answer, to make sure that we do not see any repeat of previous issues, every effort is being made to ensure that the independent football regulator is up and running as soon as possible. It is vital to ensure that we get the regulator on a firm footing and able to address the issues facing the game.

[Lord Blunkett (Lab)]

My Lords, I declare an interest as a Sheffield Wednesday supporter. I think that noble Lords will understand why I am returning to the issue of what is unfolding as a Greek tragedy. The solidarity payments paid wages for August, but a tragedy is unfolding in front of us. I make an appeal to my noble friend and to the Secretary of State to move beyond the normal speed with which the Civil Service works, which I remember very well. This is not a matter of the great phrase “working at pace”; it is about getting people off their bums and getting this regulator up and running this autumn. If we do not, the impact on the pyramid and the league will be considerable.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

My noble friend might observe that I did not use the term “working at pace”, which as it happens was in the original draft of my initial response. In all seriousness, though, we understand and share my noble friend’s concerns. We are keen for the current ownership to bring the issues facing Sheffield Wednesday—we do not underestimate them—to an appropriate resolution as quickly as possible. The Minister for Sport has already spoken with Clive Betts MP, who has been a strong advocate, as have others, for Sheffield Wednesday. The Minister for Sport is also meeting the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust on 8 September.