Niall Couper
@niallcouper.bsky.social
CEO Fair Game, Exec Board Member Union of European Clubs, Comms Senior Associate for Agenda, former Head of Media for Amnesty UK, author of three books, Wimbledon fan and lover of 90s indie music
Thought for the year!
Will 2025 mark the year the financial flow in football finally starts being fairer?
Over 20 years, the gap has grown nine fold!
It could happen, but it depends on our politicians caring about all the clubs in the pyramid and their communities
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
Will 2025 mark the year the financial flow in football finally starts being fairer?
Over 20 years, the gap has grown nine fold!
It could happen, but it depends on our politicians caring about all the clubs in the pyramid and their communities
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
January 1, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Thought for the year!
Will 2025 mark the year the financial flow in football finally starts being fairer?
Over 20 years, the gap has grown nine fold!
It could happen, but it depends on our politicians caring about all the clubs in the pyramid and their communities
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
Will 2025 mark the year the financial flow in football finally starts being fairer?
Over 20 years, the gap has grown nine fold!
It could happen, but it depends on our politicians caring about all the clubs in the pyramid and their communities
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
Well done the UK for scoring so highly in the @transparencyuk.bsky.social league table (sic)
Ultimate source of funds needs to be clear and transparent in all businesses
And that's why @fairgameuk.bsky.social is calling for it to be enshrined in football governance
No room to hide
Ultimate source of funds needs to be clear and transparent in all businesses
And that's why @fairgameuk.bsky.social is calling for it to be enshrined in football governance
No room to hide
December 31, 2024 at 11:32 AM
Well done the UK for scoring so highly in the @transparencyuk.bsky.social league table (sic)
Ultimate source of funds needs to be clear and transparent in all businesses
And that's why @fairgameuk.bsky.social is calling for it to be enshrined in football governance
No room to hide
Ultimate source of funds needs to be clear and transparent in all businesses
And that's why @fairgameuk.bsky.social is calling for it to be enshrined in football governance
No room to hide
🤔 Thought for the day
⚖️ An imbalance in football?
It takes Reece James 55 days to earn more than the entire annual budget of an average League Two club
And around two years to pay for a state of the art 15,000 all seater stadium.
One player at one Premier League club
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
⚖️ An imbalance in football?
It takes Reece James 55 days to earn more than the entire annual budget of an average League Two club
And around two years to pay for a state of the art 15,000 all seater stadium.
One player at one Premier League club
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
December 26, 2024 at 8:31 AM
🤔 Thought for the day
⚖️ An imbalance in football?
It takes Reece James 55 days to earn more than the entire annual budget of an average League Two club
And around two years to pay for a state of the art 15,000 all seater stadium.
One player at one Premier League club
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
⚖️ An imbalance in football?
It takes Reece James 55 days to earn more than the entire annual budget of an average League Two club
And around two years to pay for a state of the art 15,000 all seater stadium.
One player at one Premier League club
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
🧠 Today's thought
6️⃣ Day Six
Up for debate
🏟 Wimbledon clause
🇸🇦 State-owned clubs
🫶 Human rights
🏗 Support for clubs
And possibly the big one...
💸 The backstop and financial flow.
❓️Will the regulator have the power to reverse the growing financial divide
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
6️⃣ Day Six
Up for debate
🏟 Wimbledon clause
🇸🇦 State-owned clubs
🫶 Human rights
🏗 Support for clubs
And possibly the big one...
💸 The backstop and financial flow.
❓️Will the regulator have the power to reverse the growing financial divide
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
December 18, 2024 at 6:21 AM
🧠 Today's thought
6️⃣ Day Six
Up for debate
🏟 Wimbledon clause
🇸🇦 State-owned clubs
🫶 Human rights
🏗 Support for clubs
And possibly the big one...
💸 The backstop and financial flow.
❓️Will the regulator have the power to reverse the growing financial divide
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
6️⃣ Day Six
Up for debate
🏟 Wimbledon clause
🇸🇦 State-owned clubs
🫶 Human rights
🏗 Support for clubs
And possibly the big one...
💸 The backstop and financial flow.
❓️Will the regulator have the power to reverse the growing financial divide
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
🤔Today's thought
1/2
Premier League owners control football’s financial flow
In last 20yrs EPL & pyramid gap has soared
To compete clubs:
🏃♂️Spend more on player wages than they get in revenue
✂️ Cut cap ex projects
✂️ Cut community programmes
📈 Raise ticket prices
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
Yet...
1/2
Premier League owners control football’s financial flow
In last 20yrs EPL & pyramid gap has soared
To compete clubs:
🏃♂️Spend more on player wages than they get in revenue
✂️ Cut cap ex projects
✂️ Cut community programmes
📈 Raise ticket prices
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
Yet...
December 6, 2024 at 7:14 AM
🤔Today's thought
1/2
Premier League owners control football’s financial flow
In last 20yrs EPL & pyramid gap has soared
To compete clubs:
🏃♂️Spend more on player wages than they get in revenue
✂️ Cut cap ex projects
✂️ Cut community programmes
📈 Raise ticket prices
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
Yet...
1/2
Premier League owners control football’s financial flow
In last 20yrs EPL & pyramid gap has soared
To compete clubs:
🏃♂️Spend more on player wages than they get in revenue
✂️ Cut cap ex projects
✂️ Cut community programmes
📈 Raise ticket prices
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
Yet...
Environmental issues in football being discussed now...
December 2, 2024 at 5:56 PM
Environmental issues in football being discussed now...
🤔 Thought for the day
🌍 Where exactly is care when it comes to saving the planet?
❌️ Plastic reduction treaty
❌️ Saudi getting the world Cup
And as this is me no mention of environment in football governance bill
Who backs this?
Who funds it?
The last one we can change
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
🌍 Where exactly is care when it comes to saving the planet?
❌️ Plastic reduction treaty
❌️ Saudi getting the world Cup
And as this is me no mention of environment in football governance bill
Who backs this?
Who funds it?
The last one we can change
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
December 2, 2024 at 7:02 AM
🤔 Thought for the day
🌍 Where exactly is care when it comes to saving the planet?
❌️ Plastic reduction treaty
❌️ Saudi getting the world Cup
And as this is me no mention of environment in football governance bill
Who backs this?
Who funds it?
The last one we can change
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
🌍 Where exactly is care when it comes to saving the planet?
❌️ Plastic reduction treaty
❌️ Saudi getting the world Cup
And as this is me no mention of environment in football governance bill
Who backs this?
Who funds it?
The last one we can change
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
🤔 Thought for the day
👂Want a reason why Labour should listen to concerns of lower league football?
⚽️ 144 clubs from Championship to National League South
🌹64 of them saw a Labour gain in their constituency
📈 That is 44%
⚖️ Time to rebalance football’s financial flow
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
👂Want a reason why Labour should listen to concerns of lower league football?
⚽️ 144 clubs from Championship to National League South
🌹64 of them saw a Labour gain in their constituency
📈 That is 44%
⚖️ Time to rebalance football’s financial flow
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
December 1, 2024 at 3:53 PM
🤔 Thought for the day
👂Want a reason why Labour should listen to concerns of lower league football?
⚽️ 144 clubs from Championship to National League South
🌹64 of them saw a Labour gain in their constituency
📈 That is 44%
⚖️ Time to rebalance football’s financial flow
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
👂Want a reason why Labour should listen to concerns of lower league football?
⚽️ 144 clubs from Championship to National League South
🌹64 of them saw a Labour gain in their constituency
📈 That is 44%
⚖️ Time to rebalance football’s financial flow
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
🤔 Thought for the day
⚽️ Football thrives when it embraces its communities
⚽️ The Football Governance Bill wants football to be sustainable
Surely then, measures that make football a more inclusive and welcoming environment should be a no-brainer?
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
⚽️ Football thrives when it embraces its communities
⚽️ The Football Governance Bill wants football to be sustainable
Surely then, measures that make football a more inclusive and welcoming environment should be a no-brainer?
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
November 30, 2024 at 5:53 AM
🤔 Thought for the day
⚽️ Football thrives when it embraces its communities
⚽️ The Football Governance Bill wants football to be sustainable
Surely then, measures that make football a more inclusive and welcoming environment should be a no-brainer?
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
⚽️ Football thrives when it embraces its communities
⚽️ The Football Governance Bill wants football to be sustainable
Surely then, measures that make football a more inclusive and welcoming environment should be a no-brainer?
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
🤔 Today's thought
⚽️ Football can be a force for good
💼 It is our National Game. It is more than just a business
🤝 It is about history, tradition & community. It can bring people together
I am @fairgameuk.bsky.social CEO. I believe people & orgs that believe in better should work together. DM me
⚽️ Football can be a force for good
💼 It is our National Game. It is more than just a business
🤝 It is about history, tradition & community. It can bring people together
I am @fairgameuk.bsky.social CEO. I believe people & orgs that believe in better should work together. DM me
November 28, 2024 at 6:33 AM
🤔 Today's thought
⚽️ Football can be a force for good
💼 It is our National Game. It is more than just a business
🤝 It is about history, tradition & community. It can bring people together
I am @fairgameuk.bsky.social CEO. I believe people & orgs that believe in better should work together. DM me
⚽️ Football can be a force for good
💼 It is our National Game. It is more than just a business
🤝 It is about history, tradition & community. It can bring people together
I am @fairgameuk.bsky.social CEO. I believe people & orgs that believe in better should work together. DM me
🤔 Today's thought
📜 Tonight House of Lords will debate whether the Football Governance Bill should look at enviro measures
💸 It is supposed to be finances, say critics
🌎 Yet research links env to financial sustainability, govt has net Zero targets & the planet is dying
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
📜 Tonight House of Lords will debate whether the Football Governance Bill should look at enviro measures
💸 It is supposed to be finances, say critics
🌎 Yet research links env to financial sustainability, govt has net Zero targets & the planet is dying
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
November 27, 2024 at 7:03 AM
🤔 Today's thought
📜 Tonight House of Lords will debate whether the Football Governance Bill should look at enviro measures
💸 It is supposed to be finances, say critics
🌎 Yet research links env to financial sustainability, govt has net Zero targets & the planet is dying
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
📜 Tonight House of Lords will debate whether the Football Governance Bill should look at enviro measures
💸 It is supposed to be finances, say critics
🌎 Yet research links env to financial sustainability, govt has net Zero targets & the planet is dying
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
🤔 Thought for the day. Imagine if...
⚽️ Football financial flow closes gap between divisions & rewards well-run clubs
🏦 Clubs encouraged to spend within their means
🏟 Long-term visions like stadia improvements, community programmes & fan engagement get prioritised
It could happen tomorrow
⚽️ Football financial flow closes gap between divisions & rewards well-run clubs
🏦 Clubs encouraged to spend within their means
🏟 Long-term visions like stadia improvements, community programmes & fan engagement get prioritised
It could happen tomorrow
November 26, 2024 at 8:24 AM
🤔 Thought for the day. Imagine if...
⚽️ Football financial flow closes gap between divisions & rewards well-run clubs
🏦 Clubs encouraged to spend within their means
🏟 Long-term visions like stadia improvements, community programmes & fan engagement get prioritised
It could happen tomorrow
⚽️ Football financial flow closes gap between divisions & rewards well-run clubs
🏦 Clubs encouraged to spend within their means
🏟 Long-term visions like stadia improvements, community programmes & fan engagement get prioritised
It could happen tomorrow
🤔 Today's thought
⚽️ Football elite: clubs or brands?
🏟 Is their ambition to showcase best players as a franchise?
🌏 Games in Manchester, Beijing & New York? And screw domestic leagues?
Man City as City Blues
Real Madrid as Real World
@priceoffootball.bsky.social
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
⚽️ Football elite: clubs or brands?
🏟 Is their ambition to showcase best players as a franchise?
🌏 Games in Manchester, Beijing & New York? And screw domestic leagues?
Man City as City Blues
Real Madrid as Real World
@priceoffootball.bsky.social
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
November 25, 2024 at 6:46 AM
🤔 Today's thought
⚽️ Football elite: clubs or brands?
🏟 Is their ambition to showcase best players as a franchise?
🌏 Games in Manchester, Beijing & New York? And screw domestic leagues?
Man City as City Blues
Real Madrid as Real World
@priceoffootball.bsky.social
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
⚽️ Football elite: clubs or brands?
🏟 Is their ambition to showcase best players as a franchise?
🌏 Games in Manchester, Beijing & New York? And screw domestic leagues?
Man City as City Blues
Real Madrid as Real World
@priceoffootball.bsky.social
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
🤔Thought for the day
😢 I am hurting from a 1-0 home defeat yesterday
⚽️ Why does that matter? Football is about emotion, a community, highs and lows
🏦 It is far more than just a business. Good owners are custodians
🗓 On 27 Nov, Lords can safeguard that tradition
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
😢 I am hurting from a 1-0 home defeat yesterday
⚽️ Why does that matter? Football is about emotion, a community, highs and lows
🏦 It is far more than just a business. Good owners are custodians
🗓 On 27 Nov, Lords can safeguard that tradition
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
November 24, 2024 at 7:34 AM
🤔Thought for the day
😢 I am hurting from a 1-0 home defeat yesterday
⚽️ Why does that matter? Football is about emotion, a community, highs and lows
🏦 It is far more than just a business. Good owners are custodians
🗓 On 27 Nov, Lords can safeguard that tradition
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
😢 I am hurting from a 1-0 home defeat yesterday
⚽️ Why does that matter? Football is about emotion, a community, highs and lows
🏦 It is far more than just a business. Good owners are custodians
🗓 On 27 Nov, Lords can safeguard that tradition
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
🌅 Morning!
🤔Thought for the day
⚽️ Independent Football Regulator is coming in
👍👎It will highlight the good and the bad
🥚But there's no clear mechanism on how to replace those bad eggs
Surely an oversight. @fairgameuk.bsky.social has tabled an amendment to fix it.
@shrimperstrust.bsky.social
🤔Thought for the day
⚽️ Independent Football Regulator is coming in
👍👎It will highlight the good and the bad
🥚But there's no clear mechanism on how to replace those bad eggs
Surely an oversight. @fairgameuk.bsky.social has tabled an amendment to fix it.
@shrimperstrust.bsky.social
November 23, 2024 at 6:06 AM
🌅 Morning!
🤔Thought for the day
⚽️ Independent Football Regulator is coming in
👍👎It will highlight the good and the bad
🥚But there's no clear mechanism on how to replace those bad eggs
Surely an oversight. @fairgameuk.bsky.social has tabled an amendment to fix it.
@shrimperstrust.bsky.social
🤔Thought for the day
⚽️ Independent Football Regulator is coming in
👍👎It will highlight the good and the bad
🥚But there's no clear mechanism on how to replace those bad eggs
Surely an oversight. @fairgameuk.bsky.social has tabled an amendment to fix it.
@shrimperstrust.bsky.social
1/2
Breaking news...
Tory Peer betrays Tory legacy of @traceycrouch.bsky.social and Boris Johnson. Lord Goodman tables a sunset clause for the Independent Football Regulator
Here is what @fairgameuk.bsky.social think...
Breaking news...
Tory Peer betrays Tory legacy of @traceycrouch.bsky.social and Boris Johnson. Lord Goodman tables a sunset clause for the Independent Football Regulator
Here is what @fairgameuk.bsky.social think...
November 22, 2024 at 6:42 PM
1/2
Breaking news...
Tory Peer betrays Tory legacy of @traceycrouch.bsky.social and Boris Johnson. Lord Goodman tables a sunset clause for the Independent Football Regulator
Here is what @fairgameuk.bsky.social think...
Breaking news...
Tory Peer betrays Tory legacy of @traceycrouch.bsky.social and Boris Johnson. Lord Goodman tables a sunset clause for the Independent Football Regulator
Here is what @fairgameuk.bsky.social think...
🤔 Today's thought
🌎 Climate is No 1 global issue & attracts funders
🏳️🌈 Research shows companies with EDI policies thrive
⚽️ Football Regulator's top aim is to make the game sustainable
✅️ Then surely regulator should monitor & encourage good EDI & Environmental policies
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
🌎 Climate is No 1 global issue & attracts funders
🏳️🌈 Research shows companies with EDI policies thrive
⚽️ Football Regulator's top aim is to make the game sustainable
✅️ Then surely regulator should monitor & encourage good EDI & Environmental policies
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
November 22, 2024 at 7:47 AM
🤔 Today's thought
🌎 Climate is No 1 global issue & attracts funders
🏳️🌈 Research shows companies with EDI policies thrive
⚽️ Football Regulator's top aim is to make the game sustainable
✅️ Then surely regulator should monitor & encourage good EDI & Environmental policies
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
🌎 Climate is No 1 global issue & attracts funders
🏳️🌈 Research shows companies with EDI policies thrive
⚽️ Football Regulator's top aim is to make the game sustainable
✅️ Then surely regulator should monitor & encourage good EDI & Environmental policies
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
2/2
As a company, the Premier League is set up to defend interest of its shareholders - 20 mega millionaire owners of top flight clubs.
No surprise gaps between divisions have soared in 20 years & 64 clubs have gone into admin.
The Football Governance Bill needs to save the pyramid.
As a company, the Premier League is set up to defend interest of its shareholders - 20 mega millionaire owners of top flight clubs.
No surprise gaps between divisions have soared in 20 years & 64 clubs have gone into admin.
The Football Governance Bill needs to save the pyramid.
November 20, 2024 at 6:50 AM
2/2
As a company, the Premier League is set up to defend interest of its shareholders - 20 mega millionaire owners of top flight clubs.
No surprise gaps between divisions have soared in 20 years & 64 clubs have gone into admin.
The Football Governance Bill needs to save the pyramid.
As a company, the Premier League is set up to defend interest of its shareholders - 20 mega millionaire owners of top flight clubs.
No surprise gaps between divisions have soared in 20 years & 64 clubs have gone into admin.
The Football Governance Bill needs to save the pyramid.
I went to the House of Lords tonight and all I got was...
#fightingthegoodfight
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
#fightingthegoodfight
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
November 19, 2024 at 6:52 PM
I went to the House of Lords tonight and all I got was...
#fightingthegoodfight
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
#fightingthegoodfight
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
1/2
My morning thought...
Football is about so much. It is about communities. It is about history. Tradition. It can be a force for good.
It brings people together.
Owners are custodians of a rich heritage.
It is fans who should have the final say on a club's name.
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
My morning thought...
Football is about so much. It is about communities. It is about history. Tradition. It can be a force for good.
It brings people together.
Owners are custodians of a rich heritage.
It is fans who should have the final say on a club's name.
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
November 19, 2024 at 8:40 AM
1/2
My morning thought...
Football is about so much. It is about communities. It is about history. Tradition. It can be a force for good.
It brings people together.
Owners are custodians of a rich heritage.
It is fans who should have the final say on a club's name.
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
My morning thought...
Football is about so much. It is about communities. It is about history. Tradition. It can be a force for good.
It brings people together.
Owners are custodians of a rich heritage.
It is fans who should have the final say on a club's name.
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
2/2
@niallcouper.bsky.social
“The heartache & pain Wimbledon fans suffered when their club was ripped away from their community and moved 60 miles north should never be allowed to be repeated. Fans must be given the final say. This amendment does exactly that."
@niallcouper.bsky.social
“The heartache & pain Wimbledon fans suffered when their club was ripped away from their community and moved 60 miles north should never be allowed to be repeated. Fans must be given the final say. This amendment does exactly that."
November 18, 2024 at 6:00 PM
2/2
@niallcouper.bsky.social
“The heartache & pain Wimbledon fans suffered when their club was ripped away from their community and moved 60 miles north should never be allowed to be repeated. Fans must be given the final say. This amendment does exactly that."
@niallcouper.bsky.social
“The heartache & pain Wimbledon fans suffered when their club was ripped away from their community and moved 60 miles north should never be allowed to be repeated. Fans must be given the final say. This amendment does exactly that."
The whole thing makes no sense.
Yet another example why football, and above all the Premier League, needs an independent regulator.
Football is broken and it needs people truly independent of the Premier League to fix it.
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
Yet another example why football, and above all the Premier League, needs an independent regulator.
Football is broken and it needs people truly independent of the Premier League to fix it.
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
November 17, 2024 at 10:02 AM
The whole thing makes no sense.
Yet another example why football, and above all the Premier League, needs an independent regulator.
Football is broken and it needs people truly independent of the Premier League to fix it.
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
Yet another example why football, and above all the Premier League, needs an independent regulator.
Football is broken and it needs people truly independent of the Premier League to fix it.
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
Football club owners and directors are role models of our society.
It makes perfect sense that when it comes to an Owners and Directors Test that ethics is considered.
The Football Governance Bill can fix that anomaly.
Follow @fairgameuk.bsky.social
It makes perfect sense that when it comes to an Owners and Directors Test that ethics is considered.
The Football Governance Bill can fix that anomaly.
Follow @fairgameuk.bsky.social
November 17, 2024 at 8:16 AM
Football club owners and directors are role models of our society.
It makes perfect sense that when it comes to an Owners and Directors Test that ethics is considered.
The Football Governance Bill can fix that anomaly.
Follow @fairgameuk.bsky.social
It makes perfect sense that when it comes to an Owners and Directors Test that ethics is considered.
The Football Governance Bill can fix that anomaly.
Follow @fairgameuk.bsky.social
For Wimbledon fans travelling home, here is a reason why the Football Governance Bill is so important...
No to rogue owners ripping clubs away
No to rogue owners ripping clubs away
November 16, 2024 at 5:37 PM
For Wimbledon fans travelling home, here is a reason why the Football Governance Bill is so important...
No to rogue owners ripping clubs away
No to rogue owners ripping clubs away
A good reason why environmental measures should be part of the new State of the Game Survey...
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
November 16, 2024 at 2:28 PM
A good reason why environmental measures should be part of the new State of the Game Survey...
@fairgameuk.bsky.social
@fairgameuk.bsky.social