Government approves Carney's women's football review

The UK Government has accepted the recommendations from Karen Carney's review into the future of domestic women's football, and has challenged the FA and wider stakeholders to go further and set a new standard for women's sport.

In September 2022, the Government commissioned former England and Team GB footballer turned Sky Sports pundit Carney MBE to undertake an independent review following England's UEFA EURO 2022 success.

Her review, published in July 2023, detailed a series of key recommendations designed to capitalise on the recent success of the Lionesses, and to set out a pathway to a successful and sustainable commercial future for the domestic women's game.

A key recommendation is for The FA and NewCo, the new independent body that will lead the women's elite game in England, to commit to the full professionalisation of the Women's Super League and Women's Championship.

Carney outlined how this should be backed up by raising minimum operating standards, improving physical and mental health provision, elite training facilities for players and improving parental care packages and transition support for players leaving the game.

To ensure this recommendation is delivered at pace, the Government will now convene an implementation group consisting of key stakeholders - including the FA, NewCo and others - to ensure that key milestones are met and delivered.

The Government will also establish a separate Board of Women's Sports in the new year, attended by leading figures in the industry to highlight common themes and challenges being faced by different sports, share best practices and research, and accelerate growth of women's sport beyond women's football.