LONDON, September 30, 2021 – The campaign group – The People’s Football Association – will today hand over their #FAEQUALITYNow Blueprint For Change’ plan to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ensure the governance and structure of the Football Association (FA) modernise its archaic constitution. At the same time, they will launch officially their petition for public support. Share petition· UK Parliament: Change The Football Association governance – Together make the biggest change in 157 years · Change.org
The People’s Football Association campaign group wants to make the biggest changes to football’s governing body since it was founded in 1863.
In its current form, the FA is not fit for its purpose. There has been institutional failure regarding child abuse, safeguarding and the Sheldon report; dementia and inclusion.
The FA has neither the modernity of approach nor independence required to modernise its own governance nor exercise regulatory control over football.
The FA’s decision-making structures are arcane and convoluted leading, to a lack of clarity and steeped invested interests, intransigence and short-termism.
The FA Council is outdated, with a representative from each of the armed forces, public schools and Oxford and Cambridge Universities. We have 17 life/senior Vice Presidents, most of who have been there since the 1980s. Should the FA really be a private members’ club?
Changing the structure and composition of the FA is the platform to create a level playing field.
Meanwhile, the Premier League wields power throughout the FA and the football family, directly funding the PFA, League Managers’ Association, Football Supporters Association (FSA) Kick It Out and the Football Foundation.
In the latter they also are part of the governance – do we really want the Premier League to have this type of control?
#FAEqualityNow believes that the government must address these significant shortcomings in the Football Association’s structure, composition and articles of association.
In June of this year #FAEQUALITYNow presented a substantial submission to the Government fan-led review, chaired by Tracey Crouch.
#FAEQUALITYNOW has today launched its public petition that will make English football truly accessible and open for all, both now and in the future.
The new #FAEQUALITYNOW constitution and governance structure include:
- Open FA Membership to engage all individuals who want to be a part of the FA, which would be truly democratic, open, accessible and independent with one person one vote. This would democratise the FA and give millions the opportunity to become members. This FA Membership would vote for representatives of a 24-person Board, in open, democratic elections.
- Anyone can stand for FA Board election.
- An independent-led FA and one single board to govern English Football.
- The Football Association to become a public body and come under the Freedom of Information Act.
Ensuring national support to show how strong the feeling is up and down the country and to influence the decision-makers and members of parliament in government. It’s important that the fans, people up and down the country get behind this campaign.
#FAEQUALITYNow – the People’s Football Association is similar to a modern-day version of the Netflix drama, The English game. Two centuries ago, there was a power struggle between the independent schools elite and the northern mill towns.
Today’s issue is that the equality struggle is bringing the Football Association in the 21st century for everyone and to be truly inclusive – the central tenet of the #FAEQUALITYNow blueprint.
Those representing The People’s Association today at 10 Downing street include Mickey Ambrose (Co-Chair), Dr.Sally Tucker, Carlton Palmer, John Stiles.
To read the #FAEQUALITYNow blueprint and its final submission to the Government Fan Led review of Football, please visit www.thepeoplesfa.com
Media Inquiries: media@thepeoplesfa.com