The reforms were recommended in a report by Britain’s Lord Burns, and demanded, amongst other things, the introduction of two non-executive directors on the FA board, and a change of the “largely white, ageing and male” composition of the FA Council.
“Funding is one lever we've got. It would be a last resort. But there has to be, and there already is, a recognition that the status quo is not good enough,” Sutcliffe said in an interview with UK newspaper The Guardian.
“(The FA) must use this opportunity to put their house in order. If that doesn't happen the influence of the FA will diminish and football as a sport will suffer.”
In a letter to English football’s leading figures, Sutcliffe praised the work of the Premier League and (lower division) Football League for the progress made on financial transparency and developing home-grown players. It also proposed further discussion on financial matters, including how the game's income should be distributed beyond the Premier League.
