FOOTBALL

Not so FAB – how Premier League clubs are wrestling with fan boards

Sixteen months after Fan Advisory Boards became mandatory in wake of the failure of the European Super League, there are questions about the control some top-flight clubs have
Martyn Ziegler
, Lucy Blitz
The Times
Everton’s Fan Advisory Board made its own submission to the appeal board that reduced the club’s sanction from a ten-point deduction to six for breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules
Everton’s Fan Advisory Board made its own submission to the appeal board that reduced the club’s sanction from a ten-point deduction to six for breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules
BRADLEY ORMESHER/THE TIMES
Martyn Ziegler
, Lucy Blitz
The Times

They were set up as a result of the European Super League debacle to ensure Premier League owners would never again ride roughshod over fans’ wishes, but 16 months after Fan Advisory Boards became mandatory there are questions over whether some top-flight clubs have too strong a hold over the new bodies.

The “civil war” that broke out this week between Chelsea fans’ organisations brought into sharp focus the potential conflicts between the FABs and long-established supporter groups.

The Chelsea FAB accused the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust of seeking “chaos and division” by its criticism of the club’s owners. Sources at the Trust have said they believe the FAB is just doing the club’s bidding instead of properly representing fans unhappy about a series of issues.