The chairman of Kick It Out, the football anti-racism charity, has been shortlisted to become the first head of Britain’s proposed new Independent Football Regulator (IFR).
Sky News has learnt that Sanjay Bhandari is among three remaining candidates being considered by the government to chair the watchdog.
A decision is expected in the coming weeks, and the identities of the other two contenders for the high-profile post were unclear on Friday.
Mr Bhandari has chaired Kick It Out’s board of trustees since 2019, having been a partner at the professional services firm EY for more than a decade.
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He is also an independent non-executive director of the Lawn Tennis Association, and chairs the Satellite Applications Catapult, which aims to aid innovation in the UK space industry.
In 2024, he was awarded an MBE for services to sport.
Mr Bhandari’s chances of landing the chairmanship of the IFR are unclear, although one source described his credentials as «strong».
The establishment of the regulator, which was originally conceived by the previous Conservative government in the wake of the furore over the failed European Super League project, has triggered deep unrest in the sport.
This week, Steve Parish, the influential chairman of Premier League side Crystal Palace, told a sports industry conference organised by the Financial Times that the watchdog «wants to interfere in all of the things we don’t need them to interfere in and help with none of the things we actually need help with».
«We have a problem that we’re constantly being told that we’re not a business and [that] we’re part of the fabric of communities,» he is reported to have said.
«At the same time, we’re… being treated to the nth degree like a business.»
Interviews for the chair of the football regulator took place in November, and Mr Bhandari’s is believed to be the first of the three shortlisted names to be publicly disclosed.
The post was advertised with a £130,000-a-year salary, and will be based at the IFR’s new home in Manchester.
It is the second time a recruitment process has been run for a chair for the IFR, after an earlier hunt was curtailed by the general election.
Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, will sign off on the appointment of a preferred candidate, with the chosen individual expected to face a pre-appointment hearing in front of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee.
The Football Governance Bill is proceeding through parliament, with its next stage expected in March.
It forms part of a process that represents the most fundamental shake-up in the oversight of English football in the game’s history.
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The establishment of the body comes with the top tier of the professional game wracked by civil war, with Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City at the centre of a number of legal cases over its financial dealings.
The government has dropped a previous stipulation that the regulator should have regard to British foreign and trade policy when determining the appropriateness of a new club owner.
The IFR will monitor clubs’ adherence to rules requiring them to listen to fans’ views on issues including ticket pricing, while it may also have oversight of the parachute payments made to clubs in the years after their relegation from the Premier League.
The top flight has issued a statement expressing reservations about the regulator’s remit, while the IFR has been broadly welcomed by the English Football League.
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: «We do not comment on speculation.
«No appointment has been made and the recruitment process for [IFR] chair is ongoing.»
Mr Bhandari could not be reached for comment.
The chairman of Kick It Out, the football anti-racism charity, Sanjay Bhandari, has been shortlisted as a candidate for the first head of Britain’s proposed new Independent Football Regulator (IFR). According to Sky News, Mr. Bhandari is among the three remaining candidates being considered by the government to chair the watchdog. A decision is expected soon, with the identities of the other two contenders still unclear.
Mr. Bhandari has been the chairman of Kick It Out’s board of trustees since 2019 and has a background as a partner at the professional services firm EY for over a decade. Additionally, he serves as an independent non-executive director of the Lawn Tennis Association and chairs the Satellite Applications Catapult, focusing on innovation in the UK space industry. In recognition of his contributions to sport, he was awarded an MBE in 2024.
While Mr. Bhandari’s chances of securing the chairmanship of the IFR are uncertain, his credentials are considered strong by some sources. The establishment of the regulator, initially proposed by the previous Conservative government in response to the controversy surrounding the failed European Super League project, has stirred significant unrest in the sport.
At a recent sports industry conference organized by the Financial Times, Steve Parish, the influential chairman of Premier League side Crystal Palace, expressed concerns about the IFR’s role. Parish stated that the watchdog seems to want to interfere in areas where assistance is not needed while neglecting the areas where support is crucial. He highlighted the conflicting expectations placed on football clubs, being told they are not merely businesses but also integral parts of communities while simultaneously being treated primarily as businesses.
The recruitment process for the chair of the IFR is ongoing, with Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, expected to finalize the appointment of the preferred candidate. The chosen individual will likely undergo a pre-appointment hearing before the Commons culture, media, and sport select committee. The Football Governance Bill is progressing through parliament, with upcoming stages anticipated in March. This legislation marks a significant shift in the oversight of English football, aiming to address various issues within the top tier of the professional game.
The IFR’s responsibilities will include monitoring clubs’ compliance with regulations regarding fan engagement, such as listening to fans’ views on matters like ticket pricing. Additionally, the regulator may oversee the distribution of parachute payments to clubs following their relegation from the Premier League. While the top-flight football league has expressed reservations about the regulator’s scope, the English Football League has generally welcomed the establishment of the IFR.
A Department for Culture, Media, and Sport spokesperson refrained from commenting on speculation regarding the IFR chair appointment, emphasizing that the recruitment process is ongoing and no decision has been made. Mr. Bhandari, the potential candidate for the position, was unavailable for comment at the time of reporting.
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