Fair Game Annual Conference 2026

Day one: setting agenda for football’s future

Tuesday 24 March @National Football Museum, Manchester

Easy access from numerous train stations.
Click this link for full travel information on how to get to the ground.

Sponsorship opportunities are available here.

Day overview: who is it for?

Football is at a turning point. With the introduction of an independent regulator on the horizon, the sport faces fundamental questions about governance, financial sustainability, and inclusivity.

Day one of the conference is designed to tackle these issues head-on, bringing together key voices from across the football ecosystem to discuss how the game can be fairer, more transparent, and financially sustainable.

Through five dedicated streams, attendees can choose practical workshop sessions that align with their interests—whether it's fan engagement, equality and ethics, governance, finance, or club operations.

This day is particularly valuable for:

Club executives and owners navigating regulatory changes and financial challenges
Policymakers and football regulators shaping the governance framework for the sport
Fan groups and supporters’ trusts advocating for greater influence in club decision-making
Equality and inclusion campaigners working to make football a safer and more accessible space
Football finance experts and economists analysing the distribution of wealth in the game
Academies and lower-league representatives ensuring fair compensation for player development
Journalists and industry analysts reporting on football’s biggest governance and ethical challenges

Register your interest

day one: Programme

09:00 - 10:15 | Registration

Check in, grab a coffee or breakfast, and network with fellow attendees before the conference begins.

10:15 - 10:30 | Conference welcome

Niall Couper, CEO, Fair Game
An introduction to the day’s themes, setting the stage for key discussions on governance, finance, and football’s future.

10:30 - 12:00 | Workshop block one

Fan stream: Effective fan engagement
A session tba
Ethics stream: Gambling
Looking at the issues around betting
Diversity stream: Homophobia in football
Concentrating on best practice
Finance stream: The problem with football distribution
Are parachute payments fit for purpose
Community stream: The social impact of football
How much does football benefit its community
Practical stream: Media training
Training available to football clubs, NGOs and charities

12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch

13:00 - 14:30 | Workshop block two

Fan stream: Capping ticket prices
Is it possible? Do season ticket holders matter?
Ethics stream: How green is football
Does the sport care about the environment
Diversity stream: Sexism in football
Is it still a problem? And how can it be addressed
Finance stream: Incentivising good behaviour
How could the regulator change football culture
Community stream: How to grow the grassroots
What needs to change
Practical stream: Effective lobbying
A session for NGOs, charities and supporter groups

14:45 - 16:15 | Workshop block three

Fan stream: Fans on boards
Does it work? How do you deal with representation
Ethics stream: TBC
A session tba
Diversity stream: Racism in football
Why are there so few black people in senior positions
Finance stream: Why governance matters
A session looking at the importance of good governance
Community stream: Reshaping British culture through football
How football can help bring communities together
Practical stream: Setting up a Bond scheme
How can clubs raise vital resources

16:30 - 16:45 | Report Launch

17:00 - 17:45 | Panel: The legacy of Hillsborough

18:00 - 18:45 | Panel: What do political parties see for the future of football

20:00 - 22:00 | Evening entertainment: Auction, dinner and comedy

Join us for a day of insightful discussions, expert analysis, and collaborative problem-solving as we shape the future of football together.

Register your interest

Day Two agenda