A research-led sustainability framework for professional football
FASE supports football clubs through structured assessment, benchmarking, and evidence-led improvement across governance, environmental management, stakeholder engagement, and transparency.
About Us
FASE (Football Accreditation for Sustainability and Excellence) is a governance-led assessment framework developed specifically for the professional football industry. Built on postgraduate research in football business, the framework helps clubs understand, evidence, and strengthen sustainability practice across core operational and governance areas.
FASE is designed to support proportionate improvement and informed decision-making in a football-specific regulatory and commercial environment.
What FASE Assesses
The FASE framework assesses sustainability maturity across four core pillars of professional football operations.
Governance
Board structures, policy alignment, decision-making processes, and accountability mechanisms within professional football clubs.
Environmental Management
Environmental impacts, resource use, emissions, and operational practices across facilities, matchday operations, and supply chains.
Stakeholder Engagement
Engagement with supporters, communities, players, employees, partners, and wider stakeholders to ensure inclusive, responsible, and transparent decision-making.
Transparency
& Reporting
Disclosure, reporting practices, data integrity, and communication of sustainability and governance information to regulators, investors, and stakeholders.
How the FASE Framework Works
FASE applies a structured, staged assessment model that supports understanding, improvement, and long-term governance maturity.
Step 1
Readiness Review
Initial diagnostic assessment to establish baseline position and identify priority risks and gaps.
Step 2
Targeted Advisory
Focused, proportionate support to address identified gaps through evidence-led improvement
Step 3
Assurance Assessment
Structured assessment to validate progress, maturity, and alignment with recognised improvements.
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Professional football clubs across the English football pyramid
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Club leadership, executive teams and boards
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Finance, governance, and operational functions within clubs
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Clubs seeking structured sustainability assessment and improvement
The FASE framework assesses sustainability maturity across four core pillars of professional football operations.