Law of England
2025 c. 21
UK Public General Acts
Football Governance Act 2025
2025 CHAPTER 21
An Act to establish the Independent Football Regulator; to make provision for the licensing of football clubs; to make provision about the distribution of revenue received by organisers of football competitions; and for connected purposes.
[21st July 2025]
Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
The purpose of this Act is to protect and promote the sustainability of English football.
Introductory Text
Part 1 Purpose, overview and key definitions
1.Purpose and overview
2.Key definitions
3.Meaning of “owner” etc
4.Meanings of “officer” and “senior manager” etc
Collapse -Part 2 The Independent Football Regulator
The Independent Football Regulator
5.Establishment of the IFR
6.The IFR’s objectives
7.The IFR’s general duties etc
8.The IFR’s regulatory principles
9.Transfer schemes
Reports, statements and guidance
10.State of the game report
11.Football governance statement
12.Guidance published by the IFR
13.Guidance published by the Secretary of State
14.Annual report
Part 3 Operating licences
Operating licences
15.Operating licences
16.Application for provisional operating licence
17.Grant of provisional operating licence
18.Grant of full operating licence
19.Revocation and cessation of operating licence
Licence conditions
20.Mandatory licence conditions
21.Discretionary licence conditions
22.Scope of powers to attach or vary discretionary licence conditions
23.Procedure for attaching or varying financial discretionary licence conditions
24.Commitments in lieu of financial discretionary licence conditions
25.Procedure for attaching or varying other discretionary licence conditions
Part 4 Owners and officers of regulated clubs: suitability etc
Introductory
26.Part 4: overview and interpretation
Persons who become owners or officers of regulated clubs
27.Duties to notify IFR of prospective new owner or officer
28.Determination of suitability required for new owner
29.Determination of suitability required for new officer
30.Becoming an owner or officer without a determination
31.Opportunity to make representations about proposed negative determinations
32.Determinations under sections 28 and 29: time limits
Determinations relating to incumbent owners and officers
33.Duties to notify IFR of change in circumstances relating to incumbent owner or officer
34.Incumbent owners
35.Incumbent officers
36.Opportunity to make representations about proposed negative findings
Further provision about determinations
37.Matters relevant to determinations
Disqualification orders and enforcement
38.Disqualification orders
39.Removal directions: owners
40.Removal directions: officers
41.Directions relating to unsuitable owners and officers
42.Orders and directions effecting alternative officer arrangements
43.Ownership removal orders
44.Orders under section 43: procedure, costs and liabilities
Part 5 Duties on clubs and competition organisers etc
Duties on regulated clubs and formerly regulated clubs etc
45.Duty not to operate a team in relation to a prohibited competition
46.Duty not to dispose etc of home ground without approval
47.Duty not to appoint administrator without approval
Duties on regulated clubs
48.Duty not to relocate without approval
49.Duty not to change crest, home shirt colours or name without approval
50.Duty to notify of changes in circumstances relevant to the IFR’s functions
51.Duty to keep fans informed of insolvency proceedings
Duties on licensed clubs
52.Duty to publish a personnel statement
53.Duty to pay a levy
54.Section 53: consultation and publication
Duties on specified competition organisers
55.Duties to notify and consult the IFR
Part 6 Distribution of revenue
Introduction
56.Part 6: overview and interpretation
Applications for resolution process to be triggered
57.Applications for resolution process to be triggered
58.Applications under section 57: procedural and other requirements
59.Decisions by the IFR on applications under section 57
Resolution process
60.The mediation stage
61.Proposal stage
62.Distribution orders
63.Duration and revocation of distribution orders
Miscellaneous
64.Review of distribution orders, payment of costs, etc
Part 7 Investigatory powers etc
Information gathering
65.Power to require information
66.Reports on clubs by expert reporters
Investigations into relevant infringements
67.Meaning of “relevant infringement”
68.Investigations
69.Outcomes of investigations
70.Commitments in lieu of investigations
71.Section 70: supplementary
72.Duty to preserve information
General
73.Privileged communications
74.Requirement to publish certain notices etc
Part 8 Enforcement
Sanctions and offences etc
75.Sanctions
76.Warning notices
77.Decision notices
78.Offences
Urgent directions
79.Urgent directions
Publication
80.Requirement to publish certain notices etc
Part 9 Reviews and appeals
81.Reviewable decisions etc
82.Request for internal review
83.Internal reviews
84.Appeals to the Competition Appeal Tribunal
85.Proceedings before the Competition Appeal Tribunal
Disclosure of information
86.Disclosure of information by the IFR
87.Disclosure of information to the IFR etc
88.Restrictions on the disclosure of information
89.Information offences
Rules and regulations
90.Rules
91.Regulations
Definitions etc
92.Minor definitions etc
93.Index of defined terms
General
94.Pre-commencement consultation
95.Offences by officers of clubs and bodies corporate
96.Review of Act
97.Payments into the Consolidated Fund
98.Minor and consequential amendments
99.Extent
100.Commencement
101.Short title
Schedule 1Meaning of “owner”
Schedule 2The Independent Football Regulator
Schedule 3Transfer schemes
Schedule 4Threshold requirements
Schedule 5Mandatory licence conditions
Schedule 6Commitments in lieu of financial discretionary licence conditions
Schedule 7Meaning of “relevant infringement”
Schedule 8Investigatory powers
Schedule 9Sanctions
Schedule 10Reviews
Schedule 11Index of defined terms
Schedule 12Minor and consequential amendments