FOOTBALL clubs have “a clear and undeniable duty” to their fans and communities, the Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Pete Wilcox, has said.

He was speaking in the House of Lords last week, during the Second Reading debate on the Football Governance Bill, which would establish an independent football regulator.

Dr Wilcox, “a mildly obssessed fan of Newcastle United”, said that discussion about the future of football should put fans and communities “centre field”.

He continued: “Fan investment is the lifeblood of the sport, and I applaud the Government’s intention to place fans back at the heart of the game. To name just one example, I was pleased to see that the Bill will ensure that fans are consulted on changes to ticket prices. I hope the Bill might also require football clubs to take their civic responsibilities extremely seriously. These go above and beyond those of charity foundations and extend to local regeneration schemes.”

Dr Wilcox also praised the Bill for recognising “the need to protect fans, players, and club staff from costly club closures and the irresponsible mismanagement of club finances”.

He also welcomed the Bill’s requiring football clubs to publish steps they had taken to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion. He suggested that such a responsibility should be extended to publishing how they had reduced their carbon footprints and moved towards net zero.

Responding for the Government, Baroness Twycross, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said that the Government had “strengthened measures to put fans and communities back at the heart of the game”.

She said that requiring clubs to report on sustainability would not fall within the scope of the football regulator.