Football Licensing Authority
Encyclopedia
The Football Licensing Authority (FLA) was an independent public body set up under the Football Spectators Act 1989
and funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
.
The mission statement of the Football Licensing Authority was to ensure that all spectators regardless of age, gender, ethnic origin, disability, or the team that they support are able to attend sports grounds in safety, comfort and security.
In 2011 it was transformed into the "Sports Grounds Safety Authority". The Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) was established through the Sports Grounds Safety Authority Act 2011, which received Royal Assent in July 2011 and commenced on 1 November 2011.
of April 1989.
Instead it was eventually charged with implementing some of the Report's key recommendations by:
In 1992 the Government of the United Kingdom decided to allow clubs in the Football League Second and Third Divisions to retain some standing accommodation, provided that this satisfied certain criteria. The Football Licensing Authority enforce this through their licencing scheme.
Although the formal role of the Football Licensing Authority was limited to professional football grounds, they did respond to requests for general advice and information in relation to other sporting venues – where the issues and needs are often the same.
, with its expertise and functions transferred to another body. On 12 July 2011 the Sports Grounds Safety Authority Act 2011 received Royal Assent
. The Act will transform the FLA into the "Sports Grounds Safety Authority".
Football Spectators Act 1989
The Football Spectators Act 1989 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom enacted during the premiership of Margaret Thatcher. Its provisions apply primarily to football matches played in England and Wales...
and funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is a department of the United Kingdom government, with responsibility for culture and sport in England, and some aspects of the media throughout the whole UK, such as broadcasting and internet....
.
The mission statement of the Football Licensing Authority was to ensure that all spectators regardless of age, gender, ethnic origin, disability, or the team that they support are able to attend sports grounds in safety, comfort and security.
In 2011 it was transformed into the "Sports Grounds Safety Authority". The Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) was established through the Sports Grounds Safety Authority Act 2011, which received Royal Assent in July 2011 and commenced on 1 November 2011.
Creation
The Football Licensing Authority was originally conceived as the body that would implement the Football Membership Scheme in response to the disaster at the Heysel Stadium in 1985. However, the Government shelved this in the light of Lord Justice Taylor's Final Report on the Hillsborough disasterHillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
of April 1989.
Instead it was eventually charged with implementing some of the Report's key recommendations by:
- monitoring local authorities' oversight of spectator safety at international, Premiership and Football League grounds
- and ensuring through a system of licensing that these grounds became all seated.
In 1992 the Government of the United Kingdom decided to allow clubs in the Football League Second and Third Divisions to retain some standing accommodation, provided that this satisfied certain criteria. The Football Licensing Authority enforce this through their licencing scheme.
Key Objectives
The Football Licensing Authority had agreed the following key objectives with the United Kingdom Government:- To ensure by means of guidance, assistance and monitoring that the local authorities perform their functions to a consistent and acceptable standard; and, in the long term, to give these authorities the opportunity to reduce their level of involvement as clubs take greater responsibility for safety.
- To maintain and build on the achievements of the government’s policies on spectator accommodation.
- To bring about, through advice and persuasion, a permanent change of culture whereby consistently high standards of safety are maintained at every Premiership, Football League and international football ground by the clubs or ground management taking responsibility on their own initiative rather than in response to requirements imposed by other bodies.
- To maintain and enhance its position as the leading authority on ground safety and standards both at home and overseas and as the prime source of advice and assistance to the government, local authorities, clubs and other bodies.
Wider Role
In December 1998, following a major review, the Government of the United kingdom announced that the Football Licensing Authority would in due course become the Sports Ground Safety Authority. It presented legislation to this effect to Parliament but the 2001 General Election intervened. Ministers where committed to reintroducing it when they can find a place in the Parliamentary timetable, but failed to do so.Although the formal role of the Football Licensing Authority was limited to professional football grounds, they did respond to requests for general advice and information in relation to other sporting venues – where the issues and needs are often the same.
Abolition
On the 14th of October 2010 it was announced that the FLA was one of the 192 Quangos to be axed by Her Majesty's GovernmentGovernment of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Government is the central government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Government is led by the Prime Minister, who selects all the remaining Ministers...
, with its expertise and functions transferred to another body. On 12 July 2011 the Sports Grounds Safety Authority Act 2011 received Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
. The Act will transform the FLA into the "Sports Grounds Safety Authority".
See also
- Taylor ReportTaylor ReportThe Hillsborough Stadium Disaster Inquiry report, better known as the Taylor Report is a document, whose development was overseen by Lord Taylor of Gosforth, concerning the aftermath and causes of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. An interim report was published in August 1989, and the final...
- Hillsborough disasterHillsborough disasterThe Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
- Terrace (stadium)Terrace (stadium)A terrace or terracing in sporting terms refers to the traditional standing area of a sports stadium, particularly in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
- All-seater stadiumAll-seater stadiumAn all-seater stadium is a sports stadium in which every spectator has a seat. This is commonplace in football stadiums in nations such as the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands. Most soccer and American football stadiums in the United States and Canada are all-seaters, as are most baseball...
- Premier League