A New Era for Football Governance
Insights, papers and commentary on the changing regulatory landscape in English football.
Exploring Football’s New Era
We’re proud to introduce a new series of commentary on the evolving landscape of English football governance. This page will soon host a curated collection of insights on the Football Governance Act 2025, the Independent Football Regulator, and the reforms reshaping how clubs are run. We’re excited to roll out each piece as the new framework takes shape. Our focus is firmly on the practical side - helping clubs, boards and senior leaders understand and navigate these changes with clarity, confidence and good governance at the core.
Part 1: Football Governance Act 2025
An introductory paper exploring the arrival of the new statutory framework, the role of the Independent Football Regulator, and the key governance and regulatory questions this new regime raises for the game.
Part 2: The Licensing Regime
A practical reflection on licensing as the gateway into regulated football — covering the move toward operating licences, enhanced governance reporting, strategic business planning, supervisory oversight, and how proportionality will apply across the football pyramid.
Part 3: Ownership, Directors and Senior Executives
An examination of the ODSE regime and its implications for ownership scrutiny, senior roles, suitability assessments, governance records, change‑notification duties, ongoing accountability and potential regulatory intervention where concerns arise.
Part 4:
The IFR’s Investigatory Powers
An examination of the IFR’s investigatory powers and their implications for information requests, escalating regulatory scrutiny, formal information notices, expert reporter review, enforcement investigation, governance readiness, record preservation, response discipline, reputational exposure and the progression from concern to evidence, intervention and potential outcome