By Mark Baber
April 15 – Football has made it on to the election agenda in the UK with the Labour Party making a manifesto commitment to introduce legislation to allow football supporters to appoint club directors and also to give fans the right to purchase shares in their club when there is a change of ownership.
But for Labour to bring in this policy they will first have to win the general election in May. Appealing to diehard football supporters across the UK where the game is still viewed as a working class sport – Labour’s key constituency – is an attempt to win over those fans, if they weren’t Labour voters already.
The pledge, aimed at giving fans “effective means” to influence clubs, was included in the party’s manifesto published on Monday and would require clubs, including those owned by foreign investors, to include two supporter-appointed directors to their boards.
According to the manifesto: “Football clubs are an important part of many people’s identity and sense of belonging.
“They are more than just businesses. But despite their importance in the lives of their members and supporters, too often there are no effective means for fans to have a say in how their clubs are run.
“Labour will provide the means for supporters to be a genuine part of their clubs. We will introduce legislation to enable accredited supporters trusts to appoint and remove at least two of the directors of a football club and to purchase shares when the club changes hands.”
The proposals have been welcomed by the Football Supporters Federation which said: “The Football Supporters’ Federation welcomes any proposals from political parties that aim to strengthen the voice of football fans.
“Whether its ticket prices, ownership, diversity, or safe standing, supporters must be involved in reform of the game. Football fans should have a voice in the boardroom.”
Despite the support of many fans, club owners are likely to resist the proposals, arguing that the present model of ownership has played a major role in bringing the Premier League the international status it has achieved.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734938119labto1734938119ofdlr1734938119owedi1734938119sni@r1734938119ebab.1734938119kram1734938119