A New Era of Football Regulation – The Independent Football Regulator

The new Independent Football Regulator (the “IFR”), which will oversee a new regulatory regime designed to protect and promote the sustainability of English men’s elite football, reached a significant milestone last week. In its first major announcement, the IFR launched three consultations which will run until 6 October 2025 relating to:
 

• Its proposed framework for assessing the suitability of owners, directors and senior executives;
• Its approach to information sharing and enforcement powers;
• How it proposes to determine the appropriate type and level of sanction for those found to have breached their responsibilities under the new regulatory regime.

All can be found on the IFR consultation tool.

More consultations are expected to follow. Clubs will now have an opportunity to constructively engage with the IFR and help to shape the form of the new regulatory regime. These developments are a significant step forward since the long-awaited Football Governance Act received Royal Assent on 21 July 2025, ushering in a new era of football regulation. The range of views towards the new regulatory regime remains mixed. Some within the industry remain concerned that the regime will impose costly structures and procedures on football clubs which will be difficult for small clubs to absorb, whilst others hope the regime will improve governance and protect against club failure.

Kingsley Napley has extensive experience advising in relation to regulatory frameworks and associated disputes (including statutory appeals and judicial review proceedings). We are well-placed to help clubs navigate the complexities of the new regulatory regime, constructively engage in forthcoming consultations, prepare for licence applications, and advise in relation to reviews or appeals against any unfavourable decisions. If you would like to discuss this area further, please contact Natalie Cohen on ncohen@kingsleynapley.co.uk.

About the authors

Natalie joined Kingsley Napley as a Partner in the Public Law team following over 22 years’ service as a government lawyer, working within the Government Legal Department (GLD) as a litigator.

Kirsty joined the Public Law team in October 2024, as an Associate Barrister.