FA in need of urgent reform, say MPs
The English Football Association (FA) is in need of urgent reform if it is to tackle widespread problems in the game, MPs have said.
A culture, media and sport committee report called for the FA to "get its own house in order" so that it can address the future of the sport.
Football has been hit in recent years by a range of problems over finance and club ownership.
John Whittingdale, chair of the committee, said: "No one doubts the success of the Premier League in revitalising English football. But it has been accompanied by serious financial problems throughout the football league pyramid.
"Significant changes need to be made to the way the game is run to secure the future of England's unique football heritage, and the economic and community benefits it provides."
The committee has recommended a number of reforms to help address weaknesses in English football.
These include a more rigorous approach to club licensing with the aim of promoting better financial sustainability of football clubs. This would underpin self regulation measures, such as the new financial fair play rules being introduced by Uefa.
MPs have also called for a more robust 'fit and proper persons' test to ensure clubs do not fall into the wrong hands.
The committee say "there is no more blatant an example of lack of transparency than the recent ownership history of Leeds United".
Leeds United, traditionally one of England's biggest clubs, competed in Europe's biggest competitions at the start of a turbulent decade before severe financial mismanagement almost saw the club go out of business.
The Football Creditors Rule, dealing with how creditors are dealt with when a football club enters administration, also drew the attention of the committee.
They said the rule "epitomises the extent to which financial priorities are being distorted" and recommended that if HM Revenue and Customs was unsuccessful in its legal challenge the government should consider scrapping it through legislation.
