The House of Commons committee that covers sport is launching an important inquiry into football. This is a cross-party committee chaired by an opposition MP, but it has the power to summon witnesses and call for papers. It needs to be distinguished from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on football which is a more informal body which although influential, lacks those powers.
The House of Commons committee that covers sport is launching an important inquiry into football. This is a cross-party committee chaired by an opposition MP, but it has the power to summon witnesses and call for papers. It needs to be distinguished from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on football which is a more informal body which although influential, lacks those powers.
The select committee that covers the Department of Culture, Media and Sport will take both written and oral evidence. Fans or supporters’ trusts can submit evidence. Collective views from fan organisations are likely to be given more weight than individual submissions.
The report is likely to be more significant than some reports from Commons committees. There are widespread concerns about the game in Britain and in particular about its governance. Given devolution, the investigation will be confined to England and Wales and will not cover Scotland which has its own government and parliament.
The Coalition Government agreement contains an undertaking to examine the need for changes in football governance. In particular the Coalition Government is concerned about the governance of the Football Association and it is understood that the FA will conduct its own parallel internal review.