The Beautiful Game Changer: Sustainable Football for a Better World

E189 Shownotes: The Football Sustainability Index  

In this episode, we delve into the transformative world of football sustainability.  

We explore the Football Sustainability Index, a groundbreaking initiative assessing clubs on their environmental impact, equality standards, financial sustainability, and community engagement.  

Joining us is Niall Couper from Fair Game, a volunteer-driven organisation dedicated to transforming the governance of football to ensure the sport contributes positively to its communities and operates sustainable. This episode uncovers the current challenges and vision for football’s sustainable future. 

What is the Football Sustainability Index? 

• The index assesses football clubs on environmental impact, equality standards, financial sustainability, and community engagement.  
• Football clubs are not just teams. They are community hubs offering services like dementia groups, walking football, food banks, and environmental programs. 

Current Challenges in Football: 

• The football culture often prioritises short-term gains through high player wages over long-term community investments. 
• The Premier League generates £3.19 billion annually, with most funds directed towards player wages, leaving minimal support for lower league clubs. 
• Example: For every £1,000 a Premier League club earns, only 15 pence goes to lower league clubs. Increasing this to £22 would greatly enhance community services. 

Long-Term Vision for Football: 

• Encouraging clubs to adopt long-term thinking can strengthen community ties and create a more sustainable football ecosystem. 
• Clubs like AFC Wimbledon and Lincoln City exemplify how a long-term approach can yield both social and financial benefits. 

Regulatory Framework and Financial Instability: 

• The football governance bill proposes an independent regulator to oversee financial distributions and ensure clubs meet sustainability criteria. 
• Since 2000, 64 clubs have gone into administration, with 58% of clubs in the top four divisions being technically insolvent. 

 

 

ESG and Equal Pay in Football: 

• Niall highlights Dale Vince’s Green Code initiative promoting sustainability in football. Will discusses the holistic approach, including veganism, at Forest Green Rovers. 
• Niall suggests rewarding clubs adhering to sustainable practices to drive cultural change. 
• Niall emphasises the need for financial incentives for clubs excelling in sustainability and advocates integrating the Green Code into a broader sustainability index. 
• Niall covers Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions tracking and the importance of long-term thinking in football management. 
• The podcast concludes by discussing Fair Game’s efforts to create an index for clubs based on sustainability, social impact, and financial stability. 

 

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