1.1 | Introduction – How did we get here?
How did we get here, and where are we going?
Over the last decade, men’s and women’s football in England has celebrated exceptional performances on and off the field.
However, it has also had to weather the impact of a global pandemic, proposals for a so-called European Super League, and the prospect of clubs battling issues with owners and directors or even going bust.
Enter, stage left, the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and a new governance framework for English men’s football. The Football Governance Act (FGA) became law in July 2025, with the aim of cultivating an early warning system to gauge when clubs are in poor financial health or falling foul of unsuitable owners.
The IFR will not step in to run clubs who find themselves in such circumstances but following investigation, it can appoint trustees to take appropriate steps (which can include putting the club into administration with a view to locating new buyers). It will also offer guidance to these clubs to help restore them to a position of “financial soundness”.
Clubs will also have to secure an operating licence from the IFR, which will administer full financial assessments as part of a preventative, risk-based approach. Once provisionally licensed, clubs must submit financial plans, report on how they are meeting corporate governance standards, and consult directly with their fans on key matters.
The FGA gives the IFR a range of powers, but the IFR has said it intends to operate as a light-touch regulator with narrow objectives and a focus on outcomes. The IFR will appoint a named supervisor to every club as a regular point of contact. A heavy period of consultation is continuing throughout 2026 – with fans, clubs, leagues and wider stakeholders all encouraged to share their views.
Some parts of that process have now closed. These include consultations on establishing a regime to test the suitability of owners, directors and senior executives, on draft guidance around the levels and types of IFR sanctions, on the IFR’s approach to information-gathering and enforcement powers, and on the IFR licensing regime.
What’s coming?
Further consultations are planned throughout 2026, including a second shorter consultation on draft licensing rules and statutory guidance – the final versions of which are expected by the Summer.
At the time of launching this guide, the IFR said that it aims to conduct the provisional licence approval process during the 2026/27 season, and issue licences ahead of 2027/28. All 116 clubs across the top five divisions of the men’s game will need a licence to compete in the Premier League, English Football League and National League.
Who holds the IFR to account?
Ultimately, politics and the courts. IFR decisions can be challenged via the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) – a busy division of the English courts which is gearing up to recruit additional expertise for IFR-related cases.
Any person who appears to the IFR to be directly affected by a decision can pursue cases before the CAT within 21 days, and there are various standards of review depending on the type of decision made.
The court of public opinion
The FGA is effectively the biggest off-field change in football since the Premier League launched over 30 years ago. In The Sport Industry Report 2026 survey, however, 42% of fans said they were unaware of the IFR’s formation.
Nonetheless, 76% of fans were positive about the introduction of the IFR – with almost identical views expressed by sport industry professionals.