In a report released on Friday, the committee stated that for any issues outlined in their assessment of football in England, the FA must first itself undergo a change in structure.
They made recommendations including resizing the FA board to 10 people and reducing the average length of tenure on the FA council in order to increase the efficiency of decision making ahead of big changes.
John Whittingdale, the MP who chaired the committee, expressed his confidence that the FA was capable of enforcing these changes, but only after a recommended reform.
He said: “The FA is the organisation for the job, but it has some way to go getting its own house in order before it can tackle the problems in the English game, and address the future.
“We need a reformed FA to oversee and underpin a rigorous and consistent club licensing system and robust rules on club ownership, which should be transparent to supporters.”
These further adjustments include the committee giving their full backing to the Uefa-imposed Financial Fair Play model which comes into effect this year.
They also called for a review of the FA’s ‘Fit and Proper Persons’ test, citing the example of Leeds United’s recent murky ownership status, saying: “There is no more blatant an example of lack of transparency.”
Further emphasising the fact that the financial aspects of England’s football league system constituted most of the committee’s findings, Whittingdale continued: “No one doubts the success of the Premier League in revitalising English football. But it has been accompanied by serious financial problems throughout the football league pyramid.
“Significant changes need to be made to the way the game is run to secure the future of England’s unique football heritage, and the economic and community benefits it provides.”
The committee’s final statement urged the FA to “respond positively with an agreed strategy and timetable for change”, adding that it hoped progress could begin without the need for legislation.
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Culture, Media and Sport committee recommends urgent reform of the FA
