The Government has demanded immediate reform of the Football Association, insisting they implement recommendations made by Lord Burns four years ago in full, or face a £25million cutin grassroots funding and the withdrawal of political support.

Gerry Sutcliffe, the Sports Minister, has told the FA they must implement outstanding proposals, including the introduction of two non-executive directors onto the board, and accelerate reform of the largely white, ageing and male FA Council “as soon as possible”.

Sutcliffe said that only by implementing the Burns report in full, and working more harmoniously with the Premier League and Football League, could the FA make progress on issues such as youth development and the mothballed National Football Centre in Burton.

The attack on the FA will be seen as an implicit criticism of the independent chairman Lord Triesman, who was appointed as a result of the Burns review that was delivered in August 2005 and voted through in May 2007.

“Funding is one lever we've got. It would be a last resort. But there has to be, and there already is, a recognition the status quo is not good enough,” Sutcliffe told 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 will suffer.”