MPs summon Football Association chiefs following allegations of corruption in English game
Football Association chiefs have been summoned to appear before the Culture, Media and Sport select committee later this month over the latest allegations of corruption in the game.
Sam Allardyce’s abrupt departure as England manager last week was the most high-profile consequence of an undercover newspaper investigation into the football industry.
Allardyce was not accused of breaking any rules himself – his ousting was a result of indiscreet comments about the FA and other leading figures – but a number of unnamed managers were accused of engaging in illicit payments.
Read more: Naive Allardyce's axing was a self-inflicted wound
MPs have called on FA chairman Greg Clarke and director of compliance and regulation Darren Bailey to explain “continuing major failings in the current system of football governance” on 17 October.
“The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has repeatedly urged the football authorities to improve self-governance,” it said.
“Although the committee’s recommendations have been backed by successive sports ministers and progress has been promised by the FA, in practice very little has changed: the governance of football is cumbersome, and power lies with the clubs, especially in the Premier League.
“Real reform in relation to the ownership of clubs, transfers of players, the influence of fans, the role of agents and investment in the grassroots-amongst other issues-has stalled.”
Gareth Southgate, who has replaced Allardyce as interim England manager for the next four matches, this week referred to football as "as a sport I love but an industry that at times I don't like".
Wales manager Chris Coleman has called for life bans for anyone found guilty of making illegal paymets.