Assessing the proposed changes to fan engagement in the 2023 UK Government White Paper on English football

In February 2023, a football governance White Paper, titled ‘A Sustainable Future – Reforming Club Governance’ was published by the UK Gov­er­nment. The White Paper acknowledged that it would act on a recommendation from a 2021 Fan Led Review to create an independent regulator to control the professional football pyramid in the UK. It has been broadly acknowledged that fans were central to the Review, and that their views should be listened to by football club owners and directors. This commentary focuses specifically on the issue of fan engagement outlined in the 2023 White Paper, analysing Section 8 titled ‘Fan Engagement and Club Heritage’, to ascertain the extent to which the planned reforms and the formation of an Independent Regulator for English Football (IREF) will change the nature of the relationship between fans and the governance of their clubs.