Premier League to offer £1m to the Fans' Fund and anti-racism body

England’s sports minister, Hugh Robertson

According to the Guardian, the fans groups and the anti-racism organisations will share a total of just over £1m a year in funding from the Premier League this season despite having a boost in the income, bringing in an increase in the Fans’ Fund.

The Premier League has proposed a 25% increase in the amount of money awarded annually to the so-called Fans’ Fund, which deals with the funding, as a response to the sports minister, Hugh Robertson. It accounts for an increment from £800,000 a year the fund currently receives. The organisations are also looking for other alternatives for funding.

The move may come as a disappointment for those expecting a fundamental shift in the relationship of fans with their clubs and the level of clubs’ engagement with fans.

Robertson had challenged the FA, Premier League and the Football League via a letter on 30 April in which he had called for clear action on introducing a more independent and balanced FA board, improved supporter engagement at clubs and a “strong licensing and regulatory system”.

While on the other hand, the Premier League points to a new “formal process for consulting fans” and says “we see the experience of attending fans as critical”.

Relating to the issue, a meeting between the FA chairman, Greg Dyke, the Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, the Football League chairman, Greg Clarke, and Robertson is expected to be scheduled for September or October.