Leyton Orient Fans' Trust Official Website

The Football Supporters' Federation (FSF), the representative organisation for fans in England and Wales, has released a draft "Blueprint for Football", with the aim of establishing a central guiding document for the work of the organisation.

This is being circulated prior to the debate at the First FSF conference on 21st June, and the FSF welcome proposals for additions or changes to be debated at the conference.

The latest edition of FSF News, which contains the document in full, can be downloaded in PDF format by clicking here

We have reproduced the key part of the document below.

The Fans' Blueprint

We demand:

1. The creation of one unified governing body governing all levels of football in England to replace the current multiplicity of leagues and associations.
2. The introduction of revenue sharing between all professional clubs where one quarter of all league TV and gate revenue (including executive boxes) is pooled and divided equally.
3. Minimum standards of governance, administration and financial control for all clubs to be enforced by the governing body as a condition of membership and league entry, including a fit and proper person test for all persons owning or directing a football club
4. An annual club licensing system to be introduced over a five year period. A condition of licensing to include a ban on unfunded revenue deficits.
5. The creation by statute of a special legal status for sporting clubs giving similar tax and financial benefits to charitable status
6. The Government to permit safe standing areas at stadia where clubs and their supporters so wish
7. A reduction to constant fixture changes to suit television
8. Prior consultation with supporters on broadcasting contracts to ensure a fair deal for the matchgoing fan and an end to TV overkill
9. An end to bans on away fans and an increase in away ticket allocations
10. A comprehensive review of the structure of all domestic league and cup competitions and the structure of the season involving supporters at every stage
11. Consultation with supporters on the structure of all European and international club and national team competitions and how they relate to domestic competitions
12. The development of clear rules in consultation with supporters to prevent any recurrence of the FA appeals tribunal decision to permit the former Wimbledon FC move to Milton Keynes
13. The development of clear, legally enforceable rules to prevent clubs selling their grounds without the explicit prior agreement of their supporters and other another ground being provided in the same town
14. Involvement of supporters in initiatives to combat racism on the field and in the stands
15. An end to discriminatory treatment of away supporters in terms of ticket prices and allocations in both domestic and international competitions and club levels
16. The development of a regular TV free midweek evening with no live broadcast Premiership, Football League or Champions' League games for midweek fixtures to encourage live attendance
17. An end to the constant above inflation increase in ticket prices, particularly for lower priced tickets
18. Discount ticket prices for younger and retired supporters with national standards on age criteria
19. The development of disabled supporters' facilities at all levels of the game including minimum standards
20. Involvement of supporters in all policing and stewarding policies affecting them
21. Encouragement and adequate funding of supporter organisation and involvement in the game at all levels
22. The strengthening of the role and powers of the Independent Football Commission

Previous articles about the Football Supporters Federation and related press releases can be found in the news index

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