Burnham has not avoided confrontations with the Premier League and football governing bodies.

In 2023 he wrote to the Premier League to argue that Everton's 10-point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules should be ruled null and void.

The independent football regulator established by Nandy faces no apparent threat as its powers begin to take effect.

In 2020 Burnham co-authored a manifesto titled Saving Our Beautiful Game that called for an effective independent body to oversee financial regulation in football.

Burnham has maintained close ties with supporter organisations and founded Supporters Direct which preceded the Football Supporters Association.

He supports greater fan ownership and representation and in 2022 launched a taskforce to help supporters acquire Oldham Athletic.

The club was later purchased by local businessman Frank Rothwell while the supporters foundation secured a 3 percent stake and board representation.

A ban on unlicensed casinos sponsoring sports teams may also emerge given Burnham's longstanding criticism of gambling harms.

An eight-week consultation is now underway to examine such proposals and Burnham's club Everton maintains a sponsorship link with Stake.com a crypto casino lacking a UK licence.

Burnham was a consistent advocate for justice for the Hillsborough disaster victims.

His efforts as an MP contributed to the Hillsborough Law passed last week which aims to stop state-related cover-ups.

While at the DCMS Burnham commissioned the first review of listed crown jewels sports events in a decade.

The review proposed making the home Ashes cricket series free to view but the plan was dropped after Labour left office in 2010.

Sir Keir Starmer's government has recently advanced new legislation to stop streaming and catch-up rights for UK audiences being placed behind paywalls.