Independent Football Regulator Rejects Kick It Out’s Push for Stronger Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Requirements

The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has concluded its second-round consultation by refusing Kick It Out’s request for mandatory equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) targets and annual staff-demographic reporting for the 116 clubs it regulates. The regulator will not require clubs to submit yearly demographic reports, prompting a sharp response from the equality charity.

The Guardian

The IFR, established in 2025 as a government-backed financial regulator, is tasked with safeguarding the sustainability of the men’s professional game and preventing mismanagement such as Bury’s 2019 league expulsion. The Football Governance Act allowed but did not add EDI duties, leading the regulator to view EDI as the Football Association’s (FA) remit. The FA introduced a voluntary diversity code in 2020.

The Guardian

The IFR’s licensing framework obliges the 116 clubs in the top five divisions to detail EDI actions in corporate-governance statements, submit them to the regulator and publish them online. The FA’s code sets a 15 % target for new hires from black or ethnic-minority backgrounds and a 30 % target for women, but clubs have missed both. Reporting is now mandatory biennially, with sanctions for non-compliance. The IFR board comprises nine members appointed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, none of whom are from a minority-ethnic background.

The Guardian

An IFR spokesperson said equality, diversity and inclusion is a key element of the Football Governance Act, that the regulator is developing an EDI policy for the 116 clubs and is engaging extensively with organisations such as Kick It Out, with full consultation response and final rules to be published shortly. The FA noted its code now includes mandatory workforce-data reporting and sanctions. Kick It Out said it will issue a public statement after the updated licensing rules are released.

The Guardian

Kick It Out called the IFR’s proposals “inadequate” and accused the regulator of “putting equality on the subs’ bench”. The charity also criticised the regulator’s nine-member board for lacking minority-ethnic representation, arguing the approach falls short of the FA’s diversity targets.

The Guardian

The IFR plans to publish its final licensing rules and guidance next month, after which Kick It Out intends to release a statement on the regulator’s proposals. Clubs will be required to embed the new EDI policy in their corporate-governance statements for the next licensing cycle, and the FA will monitor compliance with its diversity code.

The Guardian

• “inadequate” — Samuel Okafor, Chief Executive, Kick It Out

The Guardian

• “putting equality on the subs’ bench” — Samuel Okafor, Chief Executive, Kick It Out

The Guardian

• “premature to assert deficiencies in our approach to EDI” — Independent Football Regulator spokesperson

The Guardian

• “We look forward to further positive discussions with the IFR about our equality, diversity and inclusion proposals for the club code of governance. This is a chance to shape a future where football truly represents the communities it serves.” — Kick It Out spokesperson

The Guardian