Tottenham named best Premier League club in Fair Game Index rankings
In a groundbreaking study that sets the benchmark for assessing football clubs’ governance and sustainability, Tottenham Hotspur has emerged as the top-ranked club in the Premier League.
The need for fairer football governance in Premier League
The Fair Game Index, an ambitious initiative to revolutionise how football clubs are assessed, has ranked every club in England’s top seven divisions and Scotland’s top four divisions based on four crucial criteria: financial sustainability, good governance, fan engagement, and equality and ethical standards. This comprehensive evaluation follows the principles of the Fan-Led Review, highlighting the urgent need for change in the culture of professional football.
Fair Game, a collective of 34 professional clubs, has been at the forefront of advocating for a new path in football governance since its formation in 2021. According to Fair Game, “Football’s financial imbalance has created a gambling culture that puts the very existence of clubs at risk.”
To address this, the organisation has called for a system where the financial flow rewards well-run clubs, emphasising the importance of incentivising sustainability and integrity within the sport.
Additionally, while the Premier League boasts significant revenues and widespread financial disclosure, the report suggests that the country’s football ecosystem still requires an independent regulator to safeguard its future – something that may suit Tottenham.
Tottenham rise to the top of the Premier League
The Fair Game Index has positioned Tottenham Hotspur as the highest-scoring club overall in England, with a total score of 68.2 out of 100, placing them ahead of their Premier League counterparts. The club’s strong showing reflects its commitment to financial sustainability, ethical governance, and broader accountability – credit to the owners.
While Manchester United ranked highest for both financial sustainability (29.1/40) and governance (20.7/30), and Brentford topped the fan engagement chart (6.7/10), Spurs managed to balance these metrics more effectively than any other club in the division.
This balance is particularly notable given the Premier League’s position as the highest-scoring division overall for financial sustainability (23.0) and governance (13.7) across the ten leagues analysed.
The Fair Game Index Table
| League Rank | National Rank | Club | Finance/40 | Governance/30 | EDI/20 | F&C Engagement/10 | FGI/100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 28.5 | 19.1 | 14.9 | 5.7 | 68.2 |
| 2 | 2 | Manchester United | 29.1 | 20.7 | 10.9 | 4.7 | 65.4 |
| 3 | 4 | Brentford | 26.5 | 14.7 | 12.3 | 6.7 | 60.2 |
| 4 | 7 | Fulham | 28.4 | 16.4 | 7.7 | 5.7 | 58.2 |
| 5 | 10 | Liverpool | 25.4 | 15.8 | 12.1 | 4.0 | 57.3 |
| 6 | 12 | Chelsea | 21.6 | 17.5 | 12.6 | 5.3 | 57.0 |
| 7 | 13 | Manchester City | 25.5 | 16.9 | 11.1 | 3.3 | 56.8 |
| 8 | 15 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 20.5 | 14.7 | 15.1 | 5.7 | 56.0 |
| 9 | 17 | Arsenal | 27.4 | 10.9 | 12.5 | 4.0 | 54.8 |
| 10 | 20 | Crystal Palace | 20.6 | 14.7 | 11.7 | 5.7 | 52.7 |
| 11 | 23 | West Ham United | 23.4 | 12.0 | 11.7 | 4.3 | 51.4 |
| 12 | 24 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 16.0 | 16.9 | 13.8 | 4.3 | 51.0 |
| 13 | 29 | Burnley | 24.5 | 10.4 | 7.7 | 5.7 | 48.3 |
| 14 | 36 | Aston Villa | 23.0 | 9.8 | 8.1 | 5.7 | 46.6 |
| 15 | 39 | Luton Town | 22.0 | 12.5 | 7.2 | 4.3 | 46.0 |
| 16 | 41 | Newcastle United | 22.7 | 10.4 | 8.3 | 4.0 | 45.4 |
| 17 | 49 | Everton | 23.0 | 5.5 | 9.4 | 5.7 | 43.6 |
| 18 | 50 | Sheffield United | 16.8 | 12.0 | 8.9 | 5.7 | 43.4 |
| 19 | 52 | Nottingham Forest | 16.7 | 13.6 | 8.5 | 4.0 | 42.8 |
| 20 | 20 | Bournemouth | 17.9 | 9.3 | 9.6 | 5.7 | 42.5 |
The division’s remarkable financial sustainability rating can be attributed to its substantial revenue streams and the high percentage of clubs that disclose full financial accounts via Companies House.
However, despite these positives, fan engagement remains an area for improvement, with the Premier League placing second in England with an average score of 5.0. This relative weakness highlights the challenges clubs face in building deeper connections with their communities, an area where Tottenham’s leadership could inspire progress across the division.
A call for systemic change in football governance
The Fair Game Index serves as a wake-up call for football authorities and clubs alike, exposing both strengths and persistent weaknesses within the sport. Tottenham’s achievement is a testament to the possibility of balancing financial success with ethical governance, but the broader findings point to systemic issues that must be addressed.
The Index highlights that equality and ethical standards are often sidelined, with Brighton leading this category with 15.1 out of 20 – a figure that suggests significant room for improvement across the board.
Moreover, while England’s Premier League clubs enjoy unparalleled financial resources, the report calls for an independent regulator to ensure sustainable governance, echoing recommendations from the Fan-Led Review.
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