Executive Summary The Football Governance Act 2025 marks the biggest structural change to English football since the Premier League launched in 1992. The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) brings real powers: licensing, financial scrutiny, continuous supervision, and the ability to remove unsuitable owners. IFR football governance means that, for clubs that have never faced statutory […]
The Owners and Directors Test: What’s Changed and Why The ODSE test for football clubs is already in force. It came into effect on 12 December 2025, making it the first element of the IFR’s new regulatory regime to become operational (Morgan Lewis, 2026). If your club has not yet assessed its exposure, it […]
Licensing 101: Understanding IFR Provisional and Full Licences The IFR provisional licence for football clubs is not optional. From the 2027/28 season, every club in the top five divisions of men’s football must hold an operating licence issued by the Independent Football Regulator (IFR). Without one, a club cannot compete. This is a statutory […]
What is the Independent Football Regulator, and Why Does It Matter? The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) is the most significant change to English football governance since the Premier League began in 1992. Established under the Football Governance Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 21 July 2025, the IFR is now operational and has […]
