The football authorities will be confronted by the collective voice of 100,000 supporters tomorrow when the game's inaugural fans' conference takes place in Birmingham.

The Football Fans' Parliament, chaired by TUC general secretary John Monks, will host debates on topics including standing at grounds, racism and the influence of television.

The day-long conference, at the National Exhibition Centre, will be attended by representatives from all three major political parties plus the Football Association, the Premier League and the Football League - who have given up to £15,000 to fund the event.

Event co-ordinator Steven Powell, the Football Supporters' Federation development officer, said: "We're determined to show the guests from the game's bodies that supporters are a force and are here to stay, and that they have to be central in everything that's done.

"Supporters are the only group of people who are likely to stop racism, yet in UEFA's ten-point plan on the issue, the notion of what fans can do to stamp it out was completely missed out.

"The Professional Footballers' Association have given us lots of help, which we're very grateful for, and now it's time the football authorities got their cheque books out to make sure supporters' voices are properly heard in the long term."

The event is the brainchild of the newly-formed Football Supporters' Federation, who represent 100,000 fans in 124 organisations around the country.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said: "The fans' parliament is a great idea. Supporters are fundamental to football and their opinions need to be heard.

"Nobody appreciates the supporters more than the players, and that's why the PFA is proud to be supporting this event."

* Leeds are awaiting confirmation from the Italian Football Federation that the return leg of their UEFA Cup second-round tie against Hapoel Tel Aviv will go ahead in Florence. Hapoel faced a UEFA deadline of noon yesterday to arrange an alternative venue to host the match on November 14, with the 47,000-capacity Artemio Franchi stadium certain to be given the go-ahead.