Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government plans to take to (a) ensure the democratic accountability of football club owners to fans and supporters (I) at AGMs and (ii) more widely, (b) improve processes of due diligence of prospective owners of football clubs and (c) enhance the local ownership of football clubs throughout the UK.

Football clubs are the heart of local communities, they have unique social value and many with a great history. It is vital they are protected.

The Government’s Expert Working Group on football supporter ownership and engagement in 2016 set out a number of recommendations to encourage greater engagement between supporters and those that run their club, while also helping to remove barriers to supporter ownership. The Premier League and English Football League now require clubs to meet with supporters at least twice a year to discuss strategic issues, giving fans the opportunity to shape the direction of the club.

The Government has also committed to undertaking a fan led review of football governance, which will include consideration of the Owners’ and Directors’ test. We are currently deciding the scope and structure of the review.