Government to host virtual summit on future of English football

A general view of the Premier League match between West Brom and BurnleyGetty Images
By Dan Roan
BBC sports editor

The government is to host a landmark virtual summit on the future of English football on Tuesday, to discuss a number of issues facing the game.

The potential return of fans to grounds in England, the reform of governance and finances, equality and diversity, and the women's game will be discussed.

A group of leaders and stakeholders from across the sport have been invited to participate.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden will lead the talks.

They are designed to bring football's various authorities closer together after a period of tension.

The heads of the Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League, Professional Footballers' Association and Kick It Out have all been invited, along with leaders from the women's game and fans' representatives.

The meeting comes amid an unprecedented financial crisis in English football, with fans prevented from attending professional matches since March.

There have been weeks of wrangling between the Premier League and EFL over a rescue package, and the FA is searching for a new chair after Greg Clarke resigned over offensive comments made in front of a parliamentary committee earlier this week.

There has also been division between the football authorities over the future structure of the game since the leak of the Project Big Picture proposals in October.

Both the Premier League and the government have committed to comprehensive reviews, but there have also been demands for an independent regulator to be established.