The Football Association board has unanimously agreed a set of reforms to its corporate governance, it has been announced.
The key reforms proposed by the FA board include:
- Reduction in the size of the FA board to 10 members
- Three positions on the FA board to be reserved for female members (by 2018)
- Introduction of term limits for board membership of three three-year terms
- Addition of 11 new members to the FA council to ensure it better reflects the inclusive and diverse nature of English football
- Ensuring all FA council members are active members in the football organisation they are elected or nominated to represent, ending the appointments of senior vice presidents and life vice presidents of the FA council
- Introduction of term limits for FA council membership
These reforms will now be put to the FA council and shareholders for consultation and approval. If ratified, they will form part of The FA’s response to Sport England’s new code for sports governance.
"I am delighted that the FA board is able to unanimously recommend this strong package of reforms," said FA Chairman Greg Clarke
"They represent huge progress and, if approved following consultation, will ensure that The FA is meeting the requirements of UK sport governance best practice. I believe they are in the interests of all of English football and will make our game better.
"From FIFA downwards, we are rightly seeing a drive for good governance in football. These reforms are a significant step forward in making the leadership of football more inclusive and representative. They will ensure greater independence and diversity into our decision making structures and therefore improve our game.
"I would like to thank colleagues from all parts of the game for their positive and collaborative approach in reaching this point and I look forward to the consultation to come."
Over the last six months the FA board has conducted a review of its corporate governance to determine how it would better serve the long-term interests of English football. The recommendations published today are the result of comprehensive discussions and consultation with a range of shareholders and stakeholders including representatives of the national game, the professional game, supporter groups, the PFA, the LMA, government and Sport England. As such, these reforms are developed from within football and with the interests of the game at their core.
A special meeting of the FA council will be convened on Tuesday 21 March to debate the recommendations. The FA council will then formally vote on the recommendations on Monday 3 April. If they receive majority approval they will be taken forward to a vote of the shareholders at the annual general meeting on 18 May.
