Level Playing Field welcome recommendations in the Culture Media and Sport (CMS) Select Committee’s report on the Independent Regulator for English Football (IREF), focused on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) standards.
The charity supports the Committee’s recommendation that the Government gives the IREF the authority to mandate EDI Action Plans as part of its threshold licence conditions for clubs and the urgency given to this, through the recommendation that substantive EDI measures for the new Code for Football Governance are worked on while the IREF is in shadow form.
The report features acknowledgement of Level Playing Field’s response to ‘A Sustainable Future – Reforming Club Football Governance’ White Paper, which looked to ensure any regulator would bring about positive change for disabled fans and disabled supporters’ associations (DSAs).
Recommendations for regular assessment of clubs’ performances against their Action Plans, as part of IREF’s routine licence reviews, would be expected to result in more progress from clubs. This can be seen from Level Playing Field’s look at the legacy of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s final report on Premier League clubs’ accessibility, five years on from its release.
Specific measures around access and inclusion for disabled fans, aligned with Accessible Stadia, must be included in the Action Plans.
Level Playing Field also welcome the recommendations on fan engagement. Disabled fans voices need to be heard in a meaningful way, with DSAs at the heart of this. Their insight will prove invaluable for anyone striving to make the sport more inclusive.
Further details on the report can be found here.