The FA Given Vote Of ‘no Confidence’

MPs have passed a motion of “no confidence” in The Football Association (FA), following a debate about the organisation’s ability to reform itself.

The motion is largely symbolic, however, MPs have warned that legislation will be brought in if changes are not made. Sports minister Tracey Crouch opposed the motion, but warned that if football’s governing body did not agree to a series of reforms by April it could lose £30m-£40m of public funding.

English football’s governing body was warned that unless it becomes more transparent and diverse, legislation will be introduced to modernise.

The non-binding motion was passed by 20 MPs present, with culture, media and sport select committee chairman Damian Collins stating, “no change is no option.”

Damian Collins speaking at the Sport Industry Breakfast Club in last year.

He also added: “The FA, to use a football analogy, are not only in extra time, they are at the end of extra time, in ‘Fergie time’. They are 1-0 down and if they don’t pick up fairly quickly, reform will be delivered to them.”

FA chairman Greg Clark has also threatened to step down if he fails to convince the sports minister that The FA is determined to reform itself.

Clarke said: “I watched the debate and respect the opinions of the MPs. As previously stated we remain committed to reforming governance at The FA to the agreed timescale of the Minister.”

A statement released on the FA website read: “Today’s Parliamentary debate questions The FA’s governance and our ability to comply fully with our duties as a governing body.

“We accept that our governance needs reform and that many of the points to be raised in today’s debate are valid. We are working hard to meet the Government’s new code for sports bodies and are committed to following their process. Our chairman, Greg Clarke, has recently given his view on this.

“But we strongly reject the allegation that we are not performing our duties. In fact The FA is a not-for-profit organisation that successfully generates enough revenue to support investment of well over £100m a year into football. No other organisation in the world directs that level of annual investment back into one single national sport.

“We believe The FA not only complies fully with its duties as a governing body, but it is comparable with the best governing bodies in the world. This is why: We promote football. We govern the game with integrity. We ensure the compliance of participation. We work to address discrimination. We develop England and grassroots teams.”