The search for the inaugural chairman of the newly proposed Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has been put on hold due to delays in the legislation process. Whitehall officials were in the process of reviewing applications for the position when Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that a general election will take place on 4 July.
The Football Governance Bill, which is currently in the intermediate stages of the legislative process, has received support from both major political parties and could potentially be expedited. However, a Whitehall insider revealed that the bill is unlikely to be included in the ‘wash-up’ of outstanding bills in the next two days, stating that it is “all but dead.”
Even if the bill were to survive, the appointment process for the chairman would take several months longer to conclude. This means that the establishment of the regulator would be significantly delayed if the parliamentary process were to be restarted after the election.
Among the names speculated to be in the running for the chairman position is former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and barrister Mark Phillips, who has represented UEFA, the governing body of European football. The government had outlined three primary objectives for the new football regulator, including promoting the financial sustainability of clubs and safeguarding their heritage.
The IFR would also have the authority to prevent clubs from joining breakaway competitions, such as the proposed European Super League. However, with the delays in the legislation process, the establishment of the regulator and its ability to enforce these objectives will be delayed.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport declined to comment on the matter on Thursday morning. It remains to be seen how the delay in the legislation process will affect the future of English football and its governance.
