reforms" as five former bosses criticised the embattled
English governing body and demanded parliament step in
to implement change.
Former chief Greg Dyke, David Bernstein, David Davies,
Alex Horne and David Triesman wrote a letter to chairman
of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee Damian Collins,
demanding the government propose legislation to reform
the structure of the FA, five years after a parliamentary
committee called for urgent reform.
Dyke and Co. highlighted the FA's failure to reform and
"modernise in a fast-changing world", pointed to the body's
inability to counter the Premier League juggernaut,
mentioned the national team's woes, while the quintet
added "there are some 25 life vice-presidents on the FA
Council - all elderly white men - who do not represent
anyone but block even the most minor of changes".
The FA responded by releasing a statement, which read:
"The FA is currently working on governance reforms to
adhere to Sport England and UK Sport's Governance Code
for Sport which was released in October this year.
"The FA welcomes the new Code as a means of ensuring
that sports organisations in receipt of public money are
operating in an effective and transparent manner that best
supports their sports.
"We will continue to work with the appropriate bodies,
DCMS and Sport England, to achieve this joint ambition."
The Premier League published a statement of its own,
adding: "The Premier League has always supported the
FA's governance reforms, for example backing the changes
recommended by Lord Burns in their entirety.
"We have kept patience when past chairmen and chief
executives at the FA have failed to deliver, but will continue to work with the current leadership team at the FA
to progress their governance agenda.
"The Premier League is investing unprecedented amounts
at all levels of the game; delivering a new generation of
community football facilities, sustaining youth development
across the top four divisions, our clubs listening to fans
over issues like ticket prices as well as working with
government to ensure the Premier League's ability to
engage and inspire young people is optimised.
"The English game is envied around the world, renowned
for its integrity, professionalism and sustainability. We will
keep working hard to ensure standards are maintained and
bettered. Others in the game have a responsibility to do the
same."
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