The UK pledges to introduce legislation to create a football regulatory body before the election

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The UK Government has promised to introduce legislation to create a new independent regulatory body for football in England before the next general election.

British Culture Secretary Lucy Fraser told the Financial Times Business of Football summit on Thursday that her department was “making good progress” and the legislation would be introduced to Parliament “very soon”.

Asked if this would happen before the general elections, which must be held by January 2025, she said: “Yes.”

“We're not messing around. It's very important that we do this right,” Fraser said. Football is very important.”

Fraser said the new agency's chief operating officer has already been appointed, and the process of finding a president will begin soon.

She said the new regulatory body would focus heavily on the “financial stability” of clubs in English football, otherwise it would leave football to regulate itself. It will not have powers to impose sporting sanctions, such as points deductions, nor will it seek to prevent foreign takeovers.

Fraser also said she hoped the Premier League and English Football League could reach an agreement on the financial distribution without the need for government intervention.

Premier League clubs will meet on Thursday to discuss the outlines of a potential deal to transfer money from the top flight to lower division clubs.

“What's in the deal? Is it really a matter for the government?” “Football should solve football’s problems,” she said.

Fraser also explained that the regulatory body would be able to prevent English clubs from joining the new breakaway competitions. The idea of ​​creating a new body to oversee English football has been discussed for many years, but a failed attempt to launch a European Super League featuring six Premier League clubs in 2021 has prompted the government to take action.