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THE ENGLISH FA TO HAVE INDEPENDENT CHAIRMAN

The English Football Association is to appoint an independent chairman from next year after the governing body's shareholders voted in favour of reforms put forward by Lord Burns.

The vote resulted in 78.5 per cent of the 915 votes cast in favour of the changes to the FA’s structure which include:

Two independent members of the FA Board (the chief executive and the independent chairman) alongside five representatives from the professional game and five from the national game.

An expanded FA Council, with added representation for players, managers, referees, women's football, ethnic minorities and disability football, as well as supporters.

A re-organisation of The FA's committee structure to streamline decision-making and better define areas of authority.

A semi-autonomous Football Regulatory Authority to govern the game, reporting to its own board.

A new funding formula dividing the FA's profits 50-50 between the professional and national games.