The Football Association (FA) increased its spending on hospitality and free tickets for members of its FA Council by a quarter over the past season, according to the association’s latest financial statements. Expenditure on tickets and hospitality rose from £452,300 for the 2024‑25 season to £564,400 for 2025‑26, a jump of roughly 25 %. The figures were disclosed in the FA’s annual accounts, which also highlighted a near doubling of costs for hosting council meetings.
The council, made up of more than 120 influential figures in English football—including EFL chairman Rick Parry, Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Maheta Molango and senior Premier League executives—receives complimentary access to England and FA matches at Wembley. Members can attend games such as the FA Cup semi‑finals and final, bringing one guest at no charge, and are provided with premium seating, free meals and drinks. An FA spokesperson explained that the hospitality package had been updated over the past year to align with what clubs and other stakeholders offer, which has driven the rise in spending.
The accounts note that the cost of hospitality is likely to climb further because of the Fellowship of Council, an honorary scheme introduced in 2017. The Fellowship allows former council members who have served for at least nine years to continue receiving free tickets, food and drinks after they step down. “As the number of members of the Fellowship increases annually, the costs associated with match tickets and hospitality are likely to increase,” the FA company secretary, Richard McDermott, wrote. He added that the association intends to adjust the benefits of the Fellowship from 2027 in order to curb the rising expenses.
The increase in hospitality costs comes at a time when fans nationwide have protested rising ticket prices and the broader cost‑of‑living crisis has made football less affordable for many supporters. In response to widespread unrest, Liverpool has already abandoned plans to raise ticket prices over three consecutive seasons. While the FA’s enhanced hospitality for council members may be seen as a perk for the sport’s elite, the association has framed it as a necessary adjustment to keep pace with the hospitality standards set by clubs and other football bodies. The next set of financial statements will reveal whether the proposed changes to the Fellowship benefits succeed in tempering the upward trend in hospitality spending.