Member

I turn to Amendments 1, 14, and 15. Throughout Committee, we heard about the incredible growth and success of English football. Indeed, the fan-led review and the White Paper also highlighted that the Premier League is one of this country’s greatest exports. It has fans across the world, and has been a true success story for the past 30 years. However, despite its phenomenal success, we know that irresponsible owners, unsustainable financial models and inadequate regulation have cast a shadow over too many of our clubs. Too often, fans have had to fight to protect their club’s identity, heritage and even its very existence. Although the Government believe that statutory regulation is needed for all the reasons identified by Dame Tracey Crouch’s Fan Led Review of Football Governance, we also recognise the need to protect the sector, including by ensuring it can grow sustainably. I am glad that the Government and the noble Lord appear to be trying to achieve similar outcomes with our amendments.