Member

The existing duties in Clause 7(2) provide an important control on the regulator’s pursuit of sustainability, to protect against overregulation. These duties already require the regulator to have regard to avoiding adverse impacts on domestic sporting competition, the competitiveness of our clubs against international clubs, and investment into English football. However, having heard concerns from this House, we have considered how to further explicitly strengthen these duties with growth in mind, but without overly constraining the regulator. This is why we have tabled an amendment to add “financial growth” to Clause 7(2)(c), alongside “financial investment”. The regulator would be obliged to have regard to the desirability of avoiding adverse impacts on the financial growth of English football. We believe that this further guides the regulator in its pursuit of sustainability. It will protect the growth of the English game while not hampering the regulator’s ability to achieve its primary purpose.