At a meeting of The FA Council today, a set of recommendations proposed following the Burns Review was passed in full.

The key elements of the proposals are:
  • Restructuring of The FA Board to include an independent Chairman and voting rights for the Chief Executive
  • The National Game and Professional Game to each have five members on the Main Board
  • Expansion of The FA Council to include supporters, players (PFA), managers (LMA), and referees as well as representatives of disability and BME (black and ethnic minority) groups. Also greater representation of the professional and semi-professional game
  • The establishment of a semi-autonomous Regulation & Compliance Unit
  • The formation of a National Game Board and a Professional Game Board to deal with matters exclusive to these areas of the game as sub-boards of the Main Board
  • The National Game to have the same voting rights as the Professional Game at Shareholders’ Meetings

At the meeting, an initial vote was held at which the full set of proposals was considered as a whole. A total of 36 votes were recorded in favour while 39 voted against.

As a result, it was proposed that each recommendation should be considered individually. At this stage, representatives of the professional game made it clear that they would be abstaining from further votes as they were only mandated to vote in favour of the proposals as a whole.

A total of 16 proposals were then considered by the Council. A debate took place and a series of votes was held at which each proposal was passed either unanimously or by a majority.

FA Chairman Geoff Thompson said: “I am delighted that these proposals have been passed by The Council. It has taken much time and effort to draw up these recommendations which we believe are the best possible reforms to make an important step forward for The FA in the interests of all sectors of the game.

“There was an impassioned debate among the councillors. It was very important that we gave everybody the opportunity to talk about the issues and express their views.”

Chief Executive Brian Barwick added: “This is great news for The FA and for the whole of football.

“It is vital for the reputation of The FA that we take these steps to modernise and lead the game properly.”

A meeting will now be convened of the Shareholders of The Football Association. A detailed proposal will be presented to amend the Rules of The Association and a number of standing orders in accordance with the passed recommendations. It is likely that this meeting will take place early in 2007.

The Shareholders are made up of the 91 Council members, 771 shares held by County FAs and 233 held by Full Member Clubs. A vote of 75 per cent in favour is required for any resolution to be passed.