Hats off to the 84 CAST members who had a go at this quiz last week.
Here are the answers. Anyone who scored 9 or above should apply for a job at the IFR immediately:
1. The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has jurisdiction over which of the following?
a) All clubs in the Premier League and the EFL.
b) All clubs in the Premier League, the EFL and The National League (but not North & South)
c) All clubs in the Premier League, The EFL, The National League (but not North & South) and
The Women’s Super League (but not Women’s Super League 2).
ANSWER: (b) - The IFR has no jurisdiction over the women's game.
2. Which of the following is not a key objective of the IFR ?
a) Protecting and promoting the financial soundness of individual clubs.
b) Protecting and promoting the financial resilience of English football as a whole.
c) Ensuring that competitive balance is maintained in English football.
d) Safeguarding the traditional features of English football that matter most to the fans and
local communities of clubs.
Answer (c) - Competitive balance is not a key objective, although some of the other objectives might have an influence on this.
3. Each club will be allocated a named IFR supervisor who will be their point of contact. Will this
person also have a direct relationship with fan groups of the club?
Answer: Yes
4. Clubs will need to apply for and be granted a licence to compete and a provisional licence will be required from the 27/28 season. There are three overarching threshold requirements which must be met to be granted a licence. Which one is missing from the following list?
a) Appropriate financial resources
b) Appropriate non-financial resources
c) ??????
Answer: Appropriate fan engagement
5. Will fans have a veto over changes to “heritage items” - eg club colours and crest, club name,
where home games are played?
Answer: No, but clubs are obliged to consult fans and take their views into account
6. Will the IFR have the power to impose a deal on how money is distributed between the leagues?
Answer: Yes, it has backstop powers but it is expected that the IFR will continue to encourage the leagues to agree among themselves.
7. Will existing owners, directors and senior executives have to be approved via the IFR Owners,
Directors & Senior Executives Test?
Answer: No, but the IFR will be able to take action against those it believes may be in breach of the requirements and they will approve all future appointments
8. When is it planned that the IFR will take over responsibility for sporting sanctions (eg points deductions) ?
a) 2027/28 season
b) At some point to be confirmed
c) The IFR has no responsibility for sporting sanctions.
Answer (c) The IFR has no responsibility for sporting sanctions.
9. Will clubs have an obligation to consult with fans about ticket prices ?
Answer: Yes
10. Will clubs have an obligation to consult with fans about the strategic direction of the club?
Answer: Yes
All the above answers can be found in this excellent FSA document:
Photo of IFR Chair David Kogan is copyright of the IFR