MPS have passed a vote of no confidence in the Football Association – but only SEVENTEEN bothered to stay and vote.
The session effectively starts the lobbying process for a bill on FA reform being drafted by the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) committee.
Worryingly, it could put England at risk of being kicked out of the World Cup, as Fifa take a dim view of politics interfering with football matters.
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Senior Conservative Damian Collins suggested ministers should intervene to overhaul English football’s governing body because “turkeys won’t vote for Christmas” and it will not reform itself.
Mr Collins, chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, said the Government should introduce legislation in the 2017/18 session of Parliament if it is unsuccessful in getting the FA to reform.
He was joined by fellow Tories and Labour MPs in bemoaning the current state of the FA.
The cross-party motion stated that MPs have no confidence in the FA’s ability to comply fully with its duties as its existing governance structures make it “impossible for the organisation to reform itself”.
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Mr Collins added: "The FA, to use a football analogy, they are not only in extra time, they're at the end of extra time.
"They're in Fergie time and they're 1-0 down, and if they don't pick up very quickly, if they don't reform, then reform will be delivered to them if they don't reform themselves."
The FA has faced repeated criticism that its board is failing to reflect and represent the diversity of the game, with the select committee publishing reports in recent years asking for an overhaul of the organisation's board and council.
FA chairman Greg Clarke has promised to step down if he fails to convince Sports Minister Tracey Crouch that the organisation is determined to make changes.
Clarke issued the following comment following today's parliamentary debate into FA governance.
He said: "I watched the debate and respect the opinions of the MPs.
"As previously stated we remain committed to reforming governance at The FA to the agreed timescale of the Minister."
Ms Crouch described the vote of no confidence, which is non-binding, as "premature".
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