24821
wp-singular,post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-24821,single-format-standard,wp-theme-stockholm,wp-child-theme-stockholm-child,stockholm-core-2.2.8,select-child-theme-ver-1.1,select-theme-ver-8.7,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded, vertical_menu_hidden,,qode_footer_adv_responsiveness,qode_footer_adv_responsiveness_1024,qode_footer_adv_responsiveness_one_column,qode_menu_center,qode-mobile-logo-set,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-7.7.2,vc_responsive
Valloni / News  / FOOTBALL REGULATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
18 Oktober 2025

FOOTBALL REGULATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Football in the United Kingdom (UK) is regulated by the national governing body, the Football Association (the FA), and overseen by the new government-backed Independent Football Regulator (IFR) for professional clubs.

The FA sets and enforces in respect of all levels of football – professional and grass roots – the official Laws of the Game, which govern such matters as player numbers (minimum of seven to continue a match); match duration; ball specifications; fouls; and disciplinary actions (yellow and red cards).

The IFR, which was established by the Football Governance Act 2025 and passed on 21 July 2025, focuses on financial sustainability and corporate governance for clubs in the top five tiers of men’s football in the UK.

The IFR new powers include:

  • Tough new financial regulation to improve resilience across the football pyramid to ensure that clubs are financially sustainable in the long term.
  • Stronger, statutory Owners’ and Directors’ Tests to make sure that football club custodians are suitable and are not using illicit finances, with powers to force rogue owners to sell up.
  • New standards for fan engagement in football clubs’ decision-making.
  • Bars on football clubs joining closed-shop competitions and breakaway leagues.
  • So-called backstop powers to ensure a fair financial distribution between football leagues.
  • New statutory protections for key club heritage aspects, such as home shirt colours and club badges and stadium moves.
  • Licensing of football clubs, in the top five tiers of the men’s game, such licences being subject to meeting financial and corporate governance standards.

It has been reported that David Kogan, a sports media executive, has been named, on 6 October 2025, as the first chairman of the new IFR for a five-year term.

He will be joined on the Board by Dame Helen Stephenson, Non-Executive Director and former CEO of the Charity Commission of England and Wales, and Simon Levine, a Sports Lawyer and former International Managing Partner of the Law Firm DLA Piper.

One of Kogan’s pressing priorities will be to address the ongoing financial problems of Sheffield Wednesday FC, following calls for their owner, Dejphon Chansiri, the Thai businessman, to sell the cash-strapped Club. Last week, it was reported that the wages of the players and staff were not paid on time for the fifth time in seven months.

In fact, the IFR powers also include the removal of the owner of a football club who is threatening its financial future!

For further information and advice on football regulatory issues in the UK, email our UK and International Sports Law Consultant, Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw, at ‘blackshaw@valloni.ch’.

Tags: