Editing The Football Association (section)

===FA 2017 reform===
In December 2016, five former FA executives – [[David Bernstein (executive)|David Bernstein]], [[David Davies (football administrator)|David Davies]], [[Greg Dyke]], Alex Horne and [[David Triesman, Baron Triesman|David Triesman]] – called on Parliament's [[Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee|Culture, Media and Sport Committee]] to propose legislation to reform the FA, saying it was outdated, held back by "elderly white men", and unable to counter the power of the Premier League or "to reform and modernise in a fast-changing world".<ref name="FAreform-12Dec2016">{{cite news|title=FA reform: Former chiefs say 'elderly white men' block change|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38274152|access-date=12 December 2016|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=12 December 2016}}</ref>

In April 2017, it was announced that some reforms, including reducing the size of the FA's board and increasing the number of women, would be submitted for approval to the FA's annual general meeting on 18 May. However, the proposed changes were criticised by some for not going far enough, particularly to improve minority representation.<ref name="BBC-03Apr2017">{{cite news|title=FA council votes unanimously to accept reforms|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39481801|access-date=5 April 2017|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=3 April 2017|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405222155/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39481801|url-status=live}}</ref> The proposals were approved at the AGM and include:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39962886 |title=Diving bans: Football Association approves retrospective action |publisher=BBC |date=18 May 2017 |access-date=13 February 2018 |archive-date=18 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818041144/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39962886 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Establishing three positions on the FA board for female members by 2018
* Reducing the size of the board to 10 members
* Adding 11 new members to the FA Council to "better reflects the inclusive and diverse nature of English football"
* Limiting board membership to three terms of three years
* Introducing term limits for FA Council members

However, pressure for FA reform continued fuelled by allegations of racism and bullying in relation to the [[Mark Sampson]] and [[Eniola Aluko]] cases, and the historical sexual abuse scandal.<ref name="Taylor-16Oct2017">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Revealed: the 14-word email that puts FA's Greg Clarke under fresh scrutiny|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/16/fa-greg-clarke-mark-sampson-pfa-eni-aluko|access-date=30 October 2017|work=The Guardian|date=16 October 2017}}</ref> In October 2017, FA chairman [[Greg Clarke]] announced a "fundamental" review of the FA after admitting it had "lost the trust of the public" following the Sampson controversy.<ref name="Rumsby-26Oct2017">{{cite news|last1=Rumsby|first1=Ben|title=Greg Clarke admits out-of-touch FA has 'lost the trust of the public'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/10/26/greg-clarke-admits-out-of-touch-fa-has-lost-trust-public/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/10/26/greg-clarke-admits-out-of-touch-fa-has-lost-trust-public/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=30 October 2017|work=The Telegraph|date=26 October 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the same month, Clarke was criticised by sexual abuse victim [[Andy Woodward]] and the [[Professional Footballers' Association]]'s chief executive [[Gordon Taylor (footballer)|Gordon Taylor]] for remarks Clarke made to a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) hearing.<ref name="Rumsby-25Oct2017">{{cite news|last1=Rumbsy|first1=Ben|title=Greg Clarke under fire again as abuse survivor Andy Woodward accuses FA chairman of 'humiliating' him|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/10/25/greg-clarke-fire-abuse-survivor-andy-woodward-accuses-fa-chairman/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/10/25/greg-clarke-fire-abuse-survivor-andy-woodward-accuses-fa-chairman/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=30 October 2017|work=Telegraph|date=25 October 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="BBC-26Oct2017">{{cite news|title=Woodward 'devastated & deeply upset'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41768651|access-date=30 October 2017|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=26 October 2017|archive-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117170715/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41768651|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Kelner-26Oct2017">{{cite news|last1=Kelner|first1=Martha|title=PFA's Gordon Taylor considering legal action against FA chairman Greg Clarke|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/26/fa-chairman-greg-clarke-admits-organisation-has-lost-trust-of-the-public|access-date=30 October 2017|work=Guardian|date=26 October 2017|archive-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029043502/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/26/fa-chairman-greg-clarke-admits-organisation-has-lost-trust-of-the-public|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2020, Clarke resigned as FA chairman over his use of the term "[[Colored|coloured]]" when referring to black players in comments to the DCMS committee via video link.<ref name="BBC-10Nov2020">{{cite news |title=Greg Clarke resigns as Football Association chairman after remark about black players |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54894864 |access-date=11 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=10 November 2020 |archive-date=12 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212144821/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54894864 |url-status=live }}</ref> The FA subsequently announced they would seek a new chairman, with hopes there would be an announcement as to the successor by March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Next FA chairman: Paul Elliott backed to replace Greg Clarke by Sue Smith|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12131655/next-fa-chairman-paul-elliott-backed-to-replace-greg-clarke-by-sue-smith|access-date=2 January 2021|website=Sky Sports|language=en|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116180112/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12131655/next-fa-chairman-paul-elliott-backed-to-replace-greg-clarke-by-sue-smith|url-status=live}}</ref>