The Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, made on April 29, 2026, bring into force specific provisions of the Football Governance Act 2025 starting on May 5, 2026.
The commencement order initiates key sections related to the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) determining the suitability of club owners and officers, imposes new duties on clubs and competition organisers regarding ground disposal and administration approvals, and activates certain investigatory powers and schedule items concerning relevant infringements.
Arguments For
Establishing regulatory oversight for football club ownership and management suitability, aiming to enhance financial stability and governance standards within English and Welsh football.
Implementing crucial duties for clubs and competition organisers, such as requirements regarding grounds disposal and the process for appointing administrators, protecting club assets and stakeholder interests.
Granting the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) necessary investigatory powers and mechanisms (including commitments in lieu of investigations) to effectively enforce the Act's new requirements.
Arguments Against
The phased commencement introduces regulatory uncertainty by bringing in legislation piece by piece, potentially complicating compliance for clubs and organizers until all related sections are active.
Increasing the administrative burden on clubs and competition organisers through new notification, consultation, and approval duties concerning ownership changes, stadium management, and insolvency procedures.
Granting new investigatory powers to the IFR may raise concerns about bureaucratic overreach or interference in the commercial and operational decisions of football entities.
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 477 (C. 39)
SPORTS GROUNDS AND SPORTING EVENTS, ENGLAND AND WALES
The Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026
Made - - - -
29th April 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 100(1) of the Football Governance Act 2025( 1 ).
These are Statutory Instruments, a form of secondary legislation in the UK, officially numbered 2026 No. 477 (C. 39).
The instrument concerns sports grounds and sporting events specifically in England and Wales.
It is titled The Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026 and was made by the Secretary of State on April 29, 2026, using powers granted under Section 100(1) of the Football Governance Act 2025.
Citation and interpretation
- -(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026.
- (2) In these Regulations 'the Act' means the Football Governance Act 2025.
Regulation 1 establishes how people reference these rules, citing them formally as the Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026.
It also defines that whenever the text refers to 'the Act,' it specifically means the Football Governance Act 2025.
Provisions coming into force on 5th May 2026
- -(1) The following provisions of the Act come into force on 5th May 2026-
- (a) in Part 4 (owners and officers of regulated clubs: suitability etc)-
- (i) section 27 (duties to notify IFR of prospective new owner or officer);
- (ii) section 28 (determination of suitability required for new owner) so far as not already in force;
- (iii) section 29 (determination of suitability required for new officer) so far as not already in force;
- (iv) section 30 (becoming an owner or officer without a determination);
- (v) section 31 (opportunity to make representations about proposed negative determinations);
- (vi) section 32 (determinations under sections 28 and 29: time limits) so far as not already in force;
- (vii) section 34 (incumbent owners) so far as not already in force;
- (viii) section 35 (incumbent officers) so far as not already in force;
- (ix) section 39 (removal directions: owners) so far as not already in force;
- (x) section 40 (removal directions: officers) so far as not already in force;
- (xi) section 43 (ownership removal orders) so far as not already in force;
- (b) in Part 5 (duties on clubs and competition organisers etc)-
- (i) section 45 (duty not to operate a team in relation to a prohibited competition) so far as not already in force;
- (ii) section 46(2) (duty not to dispose etc of home ground without approval);
- (iii) section 47 (duty not to appoint administrator without approval);
- (iv) section 51 (duty to keep fans informed of insolvency proceedings);
- (v) section 55 (duties to notify and consult the IFR) except in so far as it relates to section 24;
- (c) in Part 7 (investigatory powers etc)-
- (i) section 67 (meaning of 'relevant infringement') so far as relating to the provisions being brought into force by sub-paragraph (iii);
- (ii) section 70 (commitments in lieu of investigations) so far as relating to the provisions being brought into force by sub-paragraph (iii);
- (iii) the provisions of Schedule 7 (meaning of 'relevant infringement') specified in paragraph (2).
- (2) The provisions in Schedule 7 specified for the purposes of paragraph (1)(c)(iii) are-
- (a) paragraph 1 so far as relating to the provisions being brought into force by sub-paragraphs (b) to (e) and so far as not already in force;
- (b) in sub paragraph (2) of paragraph (2)-
- (i) paragraph (b) so far as not already in force;
- (ii) paragraph (e) so far as relating to a requirement imposed by sections 45, 47 or 51;
- (c) paragraphs 3 and 4 so far as not already in force;
- (d) paragraph 6(b);
- (e) paragraph 7(a) and (c).
Regulation 2 specifies that several parts of the Act become legally effective on May 5, 2026.
This includes provisions from Part 4 governing the suitability of club owners and officers, such as duties to notify the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and processes for determining suitability, including handling incumbent owners and issuing removal directions.
Part 5 provisions are also commenced, imposing duties on clubs and organizers, notably concerning the prohibition of operating teams in banned competitions, getting approval for home ground disposal or appointing administrators, and keeping fans informed during insolvency proceedings.
This part also includes Section 55 regarding consultation with the IFR.
Furthermore, sections of Part 7 covering investigatory powers are activated, alongside specific measures detailed in Schedule 7, which further define 'relevant infringement' and relate back to the operational aspects of the commenced sections in Parts 4 and 5.
29th April 2026
Stephanie Peacock Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for Culture, Media and Sport
This section records the signing date of the regulations as April 29, 2026, and identifies the signatory as Stephanie Peacock, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations bring into force specified provisions of the Football Governance Act 2025 (c. 21) ('the Act') on 5th May 2026. They are the third set of commencement Regulations made under the Act. Certain provisions came into force on Royal Assent by virtue of section 100(2) of the Act. A number of other provisions were brought into force by the Football Governance Act (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1134) and the Football Governance Act (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1286).
Regulation 2(1)(a) brings into force a number of provisions in Part 4 of the Act (owners and officers of regulated clubs: suitability etc) which provides for the Independent Football Regulator to determine the suitability of persons to be owners and officers of regulated clubs and to take action to ensure the removal of owners and officers who are not suitable.
Regulation 2(1)(b) commences a number of provisions in Part 5 of the Act (duties on clubs and competition organisers etc). Regulation 2(1)(b)(iii) will bring into force section 47 (duty not to appoint administrator without approval) of the Act. As section 47 applies to a body to which section 46(2) applies, the latter provision is commenced at sub-paragraph (2)(b)(ii) to ensure that section 47(2) of the Act can operate effectively.
Regulation 2(1)(c) brings into force provisions in Part 7 of the Act (investigatory powers etc) including the provisions of Schedule 7 specified in regulation 2(2).
An impact assessment has not been prepared for this instrument as a full impact assessment was published in relation to the provisions in the Football Governance Bill. That impact assessment can be obtained online at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/football-governance-bill-2024supporting-documents or by writing to the Department for Culture Media and Sport, 100 Parliament Street, SW1A 2BQ, London, United Kingdom.
The Explanatory Note clarifies that this instrument is the third set of commencement regulations for the Football Governance Act 2025, bringing further sections into force on May 5, 2026.
The note details that commencing Regulation 2(1)(a) empowers the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) to assess and enforce suitability standards for football club owners and officers.
Regulation 2(1)(b) activates club and organizer duties, specifically highlighting that Section 47, which prohibits appointing an administrator without approval, is commenced, supported by the commencement of Section 46(2) to ensure Section 47 functions correctly.
Regulation 2(1)(c) activates investigatory powers outlined in Part 7 and Schedule 7.
Finally, the note confirms that a separate impact assessment was not prepared for these regulations because a full assessment covering these provisions was already published when the original Football Governance Bill was introduced.
NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT REGULATIONS
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
The following provisions of the Football Governance Act 2025 have been brought into force by commencement Regulations made before the date of these Regulations.
| Provision | Date of Commencement | S.I. No. | |------------------------|------------------------|------------| | section 26 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 33 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 34 (partially) | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 35 (partially) | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | sections 36 to 38 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 39 (partially) | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 40 (partially) | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | sections 41 and 42 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 |
| Provision | Date of Commencement | S.I. No. | |-------------------------|------------------------|------------| | section 43 (partially) | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 44 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | sections 65 and 66 | 1st November 2025 | 2025/1134 | | section 67 (partially) | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | Schedule 7 (partially) | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 68 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | Schedule 8 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 69 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 70 (partially) | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | sections 71 and 72 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 73 | 1st November 2025 | 2025/1134 | | section 74 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 75 (partially) | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | Schedule 9 (partially) | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | sections 76 to 80 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | sections 81 to 85 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | Schedule 10 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | sections 86 and 87 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 89 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 95 | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | section 98 (remainder) | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 | | Schedule 12 (remainder) | 12th December 2025 | 2025/1286 |
This historical note, which is not legally part of the regulations, lists provisions from the Football Governance Act 2025 that were enacted through previous commencement regulations, specifically S.I. 2025/1134 and S.I. 2025/1286.
It cross-references sections commenced on November 1, 2025, and December 12, 2025, providing context on the phased implementation leading up to this third commencement order.
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