At yesterday’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), EFL clubs voted to approve several changes to the EFL Regulations which will come into effect immediately, including more inclusivity for disabled fans and better engagements between supports and club hierarchies.
Here are the three changes coming in ahead of the 2024/25 season:
FACILITIES FOR DISABLED SUPPORTERS
A new regulation has come into effect requiring disabled supporters with general admission tickets to be situated with fellow away supporters.
Previously this has not been the case in all circumstances and clubs have agreed all away supporters should be provided with the opportunity to be sat with one another.
FAN ENGAGEMENT PLAN
The EFL has updated and added new regulations to require clubs to produce and deliver a Fan Engagement Plan (FEP) from season 2024/25.
Clubs will be required to publish a FEP on an annual basis which will be overseen by a senior club official.
This requirement builds on the work clubs are already undertaking with supporters, including hosting two meetings or fan forums each season to get their views on key issues faced by club.
CLUB COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
The league has introduced a new regulation which now requires clubs to either have or establish a Club Community Organisation (CCO).
This is in order to support the objectives of the club in delivering community sports education and charitable activity.
Previously there was no such arrangement in place and while clubs have been supporting their communities through their Club Community Organisations for many years, this now formalises the position.
In addition, clubs and the CCO must now have a legally binding service level agreement (SLA) that meets the requirements of guidance provided by the EFL and EFL in the Community.
It also requires the club to procure the CCO’s compliance with the SLA.
And in further news from the AGM, EFL clubs were provided with a comprehensive update on the status of the Football Governance Bill after its progress in Parliament was halted following the announcement of next month’s General Election.
Given the high level of cross-party support prior to Parliament falling, the league has called on all political parties to commit to a continuation of the bill within their manifestos when they are published.
EFL chairman Rick Parry said: “We stand ready to work with the new Government to ensure the bill is re-introduced and progressed as quickly as possible in the new Parliament.
“It was disappointing it was lost because of the election; however, it is critical that this is only a short delay as the underlying systemic issues remain.
“We believe there is a timely opportunity for the incoming Government to take positive and decisive action to ensure that football has a financially sustainable future due to the importance of professional clubs to their communities and the people they serve.”
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