Overview

This bill aims to increase financial transparency in English and Scottish professional football. It mandates disclosure of club ownership, assets, player contract stakes, and creditors for clubs in the top four leagues. It also aims to ensure fairer treatment of creditors if a club enters administration.

Description

The Football (Financial Transparency) Bill requires clubs in the top four tiers of English and Scottish football to publicly disclose the following:

• Ultimate Beneficial Ownership: The identity of the ultimate owner of the club, its home ground, training ground, and intellectual property. This includes details of trusts involved and their beneficiaries.
• Third-Party Stakes in Players’ Contracts: Disclosure of all third-party interests in players' contracts by both clubs and players.
• Outstanding Creditors: Regular (every six months) disclosure of all outstanding creditors.
• Football Creditors Rule: Abolition of the preferential treatment of certain creditors during club insolvency; instead, all creditors would be treated equally according to statute.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify government spending. The cost of implementation and enforcement would likely fall on the Football Associations and Leagues, not directly on the UK government.

Groups Affected

• Football Clubs: Increased administrative burden and potential reputational impact from increased transparency.
• Owners and Shareholders of Football Clubs: Loss of anonymity and potential scrutiny of financial dealings.
• Football Players: Requirement to disclose third-party interests in their contracts.
• Creditors of Football Clubs: Potential for fairer treatment in insolvency proceedings.
• Football Associations and Leagues: Responsibility for enforcing the bill’s provisions.
• The Public: Increased access to information about club finances and ownership.

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