Why YOU should care about the Independent Football Regulator
The new Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has been created by a Government Act to defend, as they term it “the heritage of English football”. Their stated aims are to protect and promote clubs’ sustainability, for the benefit of fans and the local communities that football clubs serve.
This doesn’t just cover their finances; the IFR has specific powers to make sure clubs engage with fans on things like stadium moves, club badge or shirt colour redesigns. They also operate independent of both the government and traditional sporting bodies like the FA or the Premier League
One of their key roles will be to ensure all 116 clubs in the men’s professional game have functioning interaction with their fans (via Fan Advisory Boards or FABs), and they will be checking on just how clubs have consulted in their decision-making processes via annual Fan Engagement reports. This is good news for us; both because Brentford FC already actively engage with its own FAB (of which BIAS is Co-Chair), and because it will encourage the Club to help boost BIAS’s membership.
All clubs will be required to hold a provisional license before the 27/28 season, which will depend on their sound financial and corporate structures, as well as their Fan Engagement Report.
| What is in the IFR Scope | What is NOT in the IFR Scope |
| The top 5 leagues (116 clubs) | Clubs outside the top 5 leagues |
| Financial regulation and distribution | Women’s Football |
| Prohibited competitions e.g. European Super Leagues | TV / fixture / match scheduling leagues |
| Strengthened owners’ and directors’ tests | Profit and Sustainability rules / squad cost ratio / Financial fair play |
| Fan engagement requirements | Refereeing / VAR |
| Corporate governance code | Sporting sanctions |
| Protections for club heritage | Ticket prices and customer service |
BIAS has been protecting the interests of Brentford supporters for nearly 30 years and whilst we currently enjoy a good working relationship with the club, we recognise that things can change and welcome the introduction of the IFR further to develop and strengthen engagement standards for football supporters across all of English football.
You can read more about the IFR at https://www.footballregulator.org.uk (it’s a refreshingly easy-to-navigate website), and what the Football Supporters’ Association’s view is at https://thefsa.org.uk/news/what-the-football-governance-act-means-for-you
JOIN BIAS If you’re not already a member of BIAS, you can join for free HERE
