PLANS TO create an independent regulator for football have been put on hold thanks to the general election.
Because parliament is to be dissolved to allow the July 4 poll to take place, progress on bills will be halted. They may not be resumed on the other side of the vote, as the new government may have other issues it wishes to discuss.
Although the football governance bill had support from all parties, it will not be included in the ‘wash-up’ period before parliament breaks for the campaign. Labour has said that if it won the election it would introduce a regulator if the Conservatives hadn’t.
The Football Supporters Association tweeted: “We’re sorry to see the Football Governance Bill dropped at this late stage BUT the final whistle has not blown.
“The bill has cross-party support, and we call on the next Government to get this political football under control and pass it into an empty net.”
Reading East MP Matt Rodda is one of the people who had been on the committee for the bill, and said he raised the issue of Reading owner, Dai Yongge attempting to sell the Bearwood training ground separately to the rest of the club.
He told Reading Today: “It is incredibly disappointing and upsetting that the Football Governance Bill has ben halted.
“I’ve been in touch with some of the fans and other people from the (Sell Before We Dai) campaign to support the club.
“It is really disappointing after all the work that has gone in, not only for us, but for other football fans and clubs across the country.
“It’s a sad consequence of the election coming so suddenly.”
He added: “Unfortunately, we will have to look at this issue again in the future. I’m hopeful that a future Labour government will be looking at these issues again.”
