The FA must put its own house in order if it is to ask for reform of FIFA

Most reasonable people would accept, that almost everything that could be done regarding England’s World Cup bid was done, and that FIFA needs fundamental reform.

However, the Football Association, undermines its case for change in FIFA, by failing to put its own house in order.   If FIFA is to become more transparent and open, then so must the FA too.

For a number of months now - I have argued that the current constitution of the FA is failing English football and fans in general.

In June, I tabled a Commons motion calling for the FA board to resign following the England World Cup debacle.  The Motion called for a democratic revolution, led by the fans, to transform football governance in our country.

The real obstacle to footballing success is the failed managers, failed contracts and the failed payouts — some say that it is up to £50 million or £60 million in recent years — of the Football Association itself.

The organisation enjoys a virtual monopoly over the sport. It is a semi-public body and its activities are of great public concern, so the public must have some means of redress.

The FA board is run like a Byzantine court, with decisions being made like puffs of white smoke appearing from the rooftops. Currently, its board is not democratic, and it is not even bureaucratically accountable to any outside body. There needs to be complete overhaul of the way the FA is run - so that the organisation can become truly accountable to England fans.

Why not have a form of voting rights that would give England supporters the opportunity to have their say on who should be in charge at the FA?   If the FA board can be booted out by the fans, it will start to sit up and listen.

My solution would be the introduction of a paid subscription system — perhaps £50 a year — whereby England fans could exercise voting rights in the FA. This would be similar to a  a co-operative shareholding, but limited to one vote for each person.

It would be in the national interest for England fans to be able to vote for the FA board and chairman and to fire them if they did a bad job. Fans could vote for the board and chairman for a three or four-year term. They would also have the right to decide the level of spending on grass-roots and community football, and to vote on the annual budget report.

It is true that the coalition agreement, refers to reforming football governance and institutions so that co-operative ownership models can be established by supporters. But the FA should be included in those reforms and freed from the iron grip of the premier league.   As a Conservative, my hope is that the FA would adopt those reforms voluntarily.

Just as the people of this country elect the Government, so the fans should have some say in the state of our national game. I want all England fans to be able to say genuinely that ‘we are all in this together’, and for that to be backed up by real community power.

Enough is enough: if England are to win a major tournament - or gain a major tournament - we cannot go on as we are.  To adapt what Abraham Lincoln famously said about democracy, I hope that our Government will lean on the FA and empower our football fans to give this country’s football a new birth of freedom, so that football of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.

This posting was also published on Conservative Home earlier today.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Another Blues victory

Just a short blog today - to celebrate yet another victory for the Blues. This time it was Chelsea winning the F.A. Cup at Wembley against a spirited and fearless Pompey side. In a week, Chelsea have won the Premiership and the Cup, thus achieving 'the Double' for the first time in the Club's history. It really is a great time for Chelsea supporters. As one wag said: "Does Chelsea play against itself in the Charity Shield match?"!

Super Blues

I haven't had much chance to go to Chelsea F.C. this season because of all the campaigning and work in Harlow, so I was absolutely delighted to go today - the last match of the season. It was a great match with us beating Wigan 8-0 - and winning the Premier League in the Process. There was such an amazing atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, it was like a carnival. Its been a great week for the colour blue.

Its true though you can never really get away from politics and I bumped into the new Conservative MP for Watford, Richard Harrington, who by chance was sitting just a few rows behind me.

Its back to work tomorrow: it is my first day at the House of Commons as an MP. I begin a week of induction for new Members. Hopefully we will also find out if there is to be a new Government.

By Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

The Whistle is almost about to be blown

So here goes. After many years, months and days campaigning, working hard to serve as Harlow's MP, the waiting is almost over. Mr Brown is to go to the Queen tomorrow and the election date will be announced for 6 May 2010.

I have always thought that politics is a little like football - in that its never over until the final whistle. It's also as unpredictable - one minute your ahead, then the other team score a goal in injury time. One week your team is up, the next week its down.

One lesson I have learnt over the years - particularly after losing by 97 votes last time - is that you can never take anything for granted. You have to fight every minute of every day to prove your worth to the Public.

That is why, it will be good to be out and about over the next few weeks all day long around the Constituency - meeting thousands of voters. Although I have been doing this week in week for a number of years, an election campaign is that much more intensive. Early starts at dawn and late bed-times beckon.

It will be exciting yet tough, it will be gruelling, and it will be somewhat nerve-wracking. But I am convinced it will be worth it in the end.

I hope to use my blog over the coming days and weeks just to set out what its like on the campaign trail. Happy reading!

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com