Source:REUTERS/Craig Brough
[Saba Sports News] Earlier, the UK parliament passed the Football Governance Bill to establish an independent regulator overseeing men’s football in England’s top five leagues. As its first major policy announcement, the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) revealed plans to introduce a new Owners, Directors, and Senior Executives Test, granting it the authority to take action if owners or directors fail to meet the new requirements. This new test will operate independently of the existing Owners’ and Directors’ Test, which applies to all potential buyers of English football clubs. The Premier League had previously stated it would continue to operate its own test independently, unaffected by the football regulator. In recent years, the existing test has faced widespread criticism for allowing unqualified individuals to acquire football clubs. The IFR stated that the new proposals would enable it to hold clubs and individuals accountable through economic penalties, public censures, and requiring owners to divest club shares. The test will assess the “honesty, integrity, and financial soundness” of individuals seeking to purchase football clubs and require them to demonstrate “necessary skills and experience.” The IFR’s proposals apply not only to new potential owners but also to existing ones.