UK Act of Parliament
2025
United Kingdom
Football Governance Act 2025
At a glance
Enforced by
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Browse 116 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Shares held by nominees
Rights treated as held by person who controls their exercise
(1) For the purposes of this Schedule “arrangement” includes—
Rights exercisable only in certain circumstances etc
Rights attached to shares held by way of security
Significant influence or control over the activities of a club, trust or other body
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend this...
(1) Condition 1 is that the person has the right...
Interpretation
Joint interests
Joint arrangements
Calculating shareholdings
Voting rights
In applying this Schedule, voting rights in a person held...
Shares or rights held “indirectly”
Constitution of the IFR
(1) The IFR must pay its non-executive members such remuneration...
Tenure etc and remuneration of members of the IFR’s staff (including executive members)
(1) The terms on which executive members are, by virtue...
(1) A person may resign as an executive member by...
Exercise of functions by the Board
Committees and procedure of the Board
(1) The Board may determine its own procedure and the...
Disqualification from acting in relation to certain matters
Delegation by the Board etc
(1) Subject to paragraph 20, a committee established by the...
Membership
(1) The following functions of the Board may be delegated...
The delegation of a function by the Board under paragraph...
Records of proceedings
Number of members
Appointments to the Expert Panel
Declaration and registration of interests of members of the Expert Panel
Tenure and remuneration of Expert Panel members
Committees and procedure of the Expert Panel
(1) The Chief Executive Officer must establish committees of the...
(1) The Expert Panel may determine its own procedure and...
Appointments to the Board
(1) In exercising its functions, the Expert Panel must act...
Disqualification from acting in relation to certain matters
Records of Expert Panel committee proceedings
Appointment of observer
Accounts and audit
Seal and evidence
Status
Supplementary powers
Financial assistance
(1) The chair may appoint any other non-executive member to...
(1) The Chief Executive Officer is to be appointed by...
(1) A person (“A”) may not be appointed as a...
Declaration and registration of interests of members of the Board
Tenure and remuneration of non-executive members
A non-executive member of the Board may be removed from...
Transfer schemes
Supplementary
Interpretation
Threshold requirements
Financial resources
Non-financial resources
Fan engagement
Interpretation
Introduction
Annual declaration
The condition must require the declaration to contain—
Interpretation
Financial plans
For the purposes of paragraph 2(a), the IFR—
Corporate governance statement
The condition must require— (a) the corporate governance statement to...
(1) The IFR must publish the latest corporate governance statement...
(1) The IFR must prepare and publish a code of...
Fan consultation
(1) The condition may require the consultation to take place...
Application of Schedule
Procedure for accepting a commitment or requested variation
The IFR must, as soon as reasonably practicable after deciding...
Paragraph 2 does not apply in relation to a proposed...
Procedure for releasing a specified competition organiser from a commitment
The IFR must, as soon as reasonably practicable after deciding...
Introduction
Relevant infringements committed by clubs
Relevant infringements committed by owners of clubs
Relevant infringements committed by officers of clubs
Relevant infringements committed by senior managers of clubs
Relevant infringements committed by specified competition organisers
Relevant infringements committed by other persons
Application of this Schedule
Power to ask questions
Power to enter business premises under a warrant
(1) A warrant under paragraph 3 must describe—
Introduction
Interpretation
Penalties imposed by reference to a daily rate
Revenue and remuneration
Interest
Recovery as a civil debt
Power to amend figures
Censure statements
Financial penalties
Censure statements
Appointment of a skilled person
Financial penalties
Injunctive relief
Suspension or revocation of operating licence
(1) The IFR may— (a) suspend the club’s operating licence,...
Public Records Act 1958
Competition Appeal Tribunal Rules 2015 (S.I. 2015/1648)
Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967
House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001
Enterprise Act 2002
(1) Paragraph 1A (enforcement of injunctions in England and Wales...
(1) Paragraph 10A (Tribunal rules: institution of proceedings) is amended...
Equality Act 2010
Commencement
Amended 1 timeShort title
Amended 1 timeBrowse 99 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Purpose and overview
Key definitions
Meaning of “owner” etc
Meanings of “officer” and “senior manager” etc
Establishment of the IFR
The IFR’s objectives
The IFR’s general duties etc
The IFR’s regulatory principles
Transfer schemes
State of the game report
Football governance statement
Guidance published by the IFR
Guidance published by the Secretary of State
Annual report
Operating licences
Application for provisional operating licence
Grant of provisional operating licence
Grant of full operating licence
Revocation and cessation of operating licence
Mandatory licence conditions
Discretionary licence conditions
Scope of powers to attach or vary discretionary licence conditions
Procedure for attaching or varying financial discretionary licence conditions
Commitments in lieu of financial discretionary licence conditions
Procedure for attaching or varying other discretionary licence conditions
Part 4: overview and interpretation
Duties to notify IFR of prospective new owner or officer
Determination of suitability required for new owner
Determination of suitability required for new officer
Becoming an owner or officer without a determination
Opportunity to make representations about proposed negative determinations
Determinations under sections 28 and 29: time limits
Duties to notify IFR of change in circumstances relating to incumbent owner or officer
Incumbent owners
Incumbent officers
Opportunity to make representations about proposed negative findings
Matters relevant to determinations
Disqualification orders
Removal directions: owners
Removal directions: officers
Directions relating to unsuitable owners and officers
Orders and directions effecting alternative officer arrangements
Ownership removal orders
Orders under section 43: procedure, costs and liabilities
Duty not to operate a team in relation to a prohibited competition
Duty not to dispose etc of home ground without approval
Duty not to appoint administrator without approval
Duty not to relocate without approval
Duty not to change crest, home shirt colours or name without approval
Duty to notify of changes in circumstances relevant to the IFR’s functions
Duty to keep fans informed of insolvency proceedings
Duty to publish a personnel statement
Duty to pay a levy
Section 53: consultation and publication
Duties to notify and consult the IFR
Part 6: overview and interpretation
Applications for resolution process to be triggered
Applications under section 57: procedural and other requirements
Decisions by the IFR on applications under section 57
The mediation stage
Proposal stage
Distribution orders
Duration and revocation of distribution orders
Review of distribution orders, payment of costs, etc
Power to require information
Reports on clubs by expert reporters
Meaning of “relevant infringement”
Investigations
Outcomes of investigations
Commitments in lieu of investigations
Section 70: supplementary
Duty to preserve information
Privileged communications
Requirement to publish certain notices etc
Sanctions
Warning notices
Decision notices
Offences
Urgent directions
Requirement to publish certain notices etc
Reviewable decisions etc
Request for internal review
Internal reviews
Appeals to the Competition Appeal Tribunal
Proceedings before the Competition Appeal Tribunal
Disclosure of information by the IFR
Disclosure of information to the IFR etc
Restrictions on the disclosure of information
Information offences
Rules
Regulations
Minor definitions etc
Index of defined terms
Pre-commencement consultation
Offences by officers of clubs and bodies corporate
Review of Act
Payments into the Consolidated Fund
Minor and consequential amendments
Extent
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Independent Football Regulator
New independent regulator for English football clubs established by the Football Governance Act 2024. Licences clubs, sets financial sustainability requirements, and protects …
Connected legislation
1 statutory instrument
These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.
Secondary legislation (1)
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Regulators
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