FSA: FANS UNITE TO FIGHT THREAT
‘PROJECT BIG PICTURE’, a European Super League, pay-per-view and Covid-19 are bringing many clubs to their knees.
But far from being bowed there appears a remarkable resistance and unity to face football’s big issues head on.
And that’s an encouraging scenario for the influential Football Supporters’ Association.
Chief executive Kevin Miles (above) said: “Right now there are a lot of issues that supporters have great concerns about. With the Covid-19 situation there are many clubs under threat, the stakes are a lot higher in many ways.
“Obviously the clubs would like fans back in the grounds. That gives us some sway in things. We’ve done a lot in the last couple of years on building connections with politicians.
“We also had a manifesto agreement from the Government for a fan-led review of the governance of football. That has taken on a new importance since ‘Project Big Picture’ and all that sort of stuff.
“It’s not the first time that the big clubs led by Liverpool and Manchester United have been associated with things like ‘Project Big Picture’.
“We’ve had talk not so long before that of a European Super League which has surfaced again in the last fortnight.
“These clubs should have learned by now that they try to make these changes at their peril because these fan groups will not sit by quietly.”
The FSA isn’t just concerned about matters among the higher echelon – there are concerns over the whole football pyramid.
He said: “The fans have been great on the PPV stuff. The money raised for food banks is a good way of showing the contrast between the wealth at the top of the game and the reality of what is going on in our communities.
“There is a general appreciation among fans throughout the country over the importance of football’s pyramid.
“They all realise how important football clubs are in the lives of individual fans and also whole communities.
“It’s ingrained into our culture,” added Miles.