Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has come under fire for her comments on football's independent regulator, branding it a "waste of money" during her appearance on the Telegraph’s ‘Daily T’ podcast on Monday.

The Football Governance Bill, which will establish a first independent regulator for the professional men's game in England, was initially tabled under the former Tory government in March 2024. It failed to pass through Parliament before the Conservatives were ousted from power by Labour in the general election.

The Football Supporters’ Association, staunch advocates for an independent regulator, responded on Tuesday with a pointed statement: "It’s curious that Kemi Badenoch now opposes the regulator, as we have seen correspondence she sent to a constituent a couple of years ago when she said ‘I support these reforms’. This is what’s known in football as an own goal, Kemi."

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They continued their critique by highlighting the contradiction with her party's stance: "We’d also remind her that the Football Governance Bill was a Conservative Party proposal, which featured in their last manifesto, and many of her colleagues did excellent work on the Bill. She’s throwing that on the scrap heap to gain favour with a few rich club owners."

The association also made a financial case for the regulator: "The Premier League is currently spending around £50million per season on legal fees fighting cases which could be handled by a regulator costing one-fifth of that, while protecting a lot more clubs. And football will cover the costs, this isn’t coming out of the public purse."

Lastly, they questioned the breadth of Badenoch's consultations within the sport: "She claims to have spoken to people in the ‘industry’ – we prefer to call it the game – but that doesn’t appear to include the EFL who represent 72 clubs and back the regulator. Can Kemi let everyone know exactly who she’s spoken to in football? ".

"She has certainly not spoken to the FSA or our supporter groups who are right behind this legislation which puts a block on domestic involvement in a European Super League, offers more protection to our clubs, and gives supporters a greater say in the game."

Badenoch had said on Monday: "I think a football regulator is going to be a waste of money. When I speak to people in the industry, they don’t think it’s going to work. So, why are we doing it? " Badenoch’s official spokesperson has been contacted for a response to the FSA statement.

The Football Governance Bill, which has the creation of the regulator at its heart, was reintroduced to Parliament by the new Labour Government after it failed to pass before former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called last July’s General Election. The regulator has the backing of the EFL but the Premier League’s chief executive Richard Masters fears it could have unintended consequences and risks making the league less competitive.

The likes of respected pundit Gary Neville are firm backers of introducing a regulator. Neville, who is part-owner of Salford City, said: We have a Premier League that's entitled, they feel entitled. I'm not going to use the word greedy, but I just have.

"They are selfish and I can't understand that way of thinking. It's almost like they're the big brother that sit there and distribute scraps of food to the little brothers round the table."

Fair Game, a group which supports the introduction of a regulator, also criticised Badenoch’s comments.

"Kemi Badenoch’s misguided assertion that an independent regulator for football would be a waste of money shows that she doesn’t understand the Bill and doesn’t understand – or doesn’t care about – football clubs and their role in the local economy and community," Fair Game’s chief executive Niall Couper said.

"Over half of our top 92 clubs are technically insolvent and our national game in its current guise is not sustainable. But a Football Governance Bill that gives the regulator power to ensure a fair financial flow and to reward well-run clubs will help safeguard its future."

"As well as helping to maintain vital community assets, this will safeguard the jobs of thousands of employees across the country, both at clubs and at suppliers and sponsors of those clubs."

"Beyond this, Kemi Badenoch seems to have forgotten that the regulator will be paid for by levies on clubs, with the initial government spend being recouped over time."

"This was originally a Tory bill, and we call on all Conservatives not to lose sight of its importance now."

The Football Governance Bill was reintroduced by the new Labour government in October and is currently making its way through the House of Lords before being debated by MPs in the Commons. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy recently warned peers it is "not acceptable to use parliamentary procedures to try to block" the bill.

In response to Badenoch's comments, Nandy said: "The Tory U-turn on protecting football clubs from collapse is a complete betrayal of fans and communities up and down the country. We'll support football to thrive and put fans back at the heart of the game."

The Labour Party, meanwhile, has dismissed reports the new regulator would force Newcastle United's owners to sell up after a proposal to ban state-controlled clubs from English football was submitted in an amendment to the Football Governance Bill. The amendment, proposed by Labour Peer Lord Bassam of Brighton, seeks to block state-owned clubs from being granted an operating licence, which would clearly affect the Magpies after their Saudi-led takeover in 2021.