The Act, answered.

A 'regulated club' is a club that operates a 'relevant team': a team entered into, a member of, or participating in a 'specified competition'. Competitions are specified by the Secretary of State in regulations, not named in the Act itself. A club 'operates' a team if it is responsible for that team's entry into, membership of, or participation in a competition.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 2(1)–(3)

Only competitions whose teams are exclusively or predominantly English teams can be specified. A team counts as English if the ground where it customarily plays home matches is in England. Before specifying (except for the first regulations), the Secretary of State must assess the move, consult the IFR and the Football Association, and lay a report before Parliament.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 2(3)–(6)

The Secretary of State must review the operation and effect of the Act and publish a report within five years of section 15 coming fully into force, including whether the right competitions are covered. The Act extends to England and Wales only.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 96(1)–(3), s. 99(1)

The Act's stated purpose is to protect and promote the sustainability of English football. English football is 'sustainable' if it continues to serve the interests of fans of regulated clubs and continues to contribute to the economic or social well-being of the local communities those clubs are associated with.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 1(1), (3)

Three: to protect and promote the financial soundness of regulated clubs; to protect and promote the financial resilience of English football as a whole; and to safeguard the heritage of English football.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 6

Yes. The IFR must have regard to the desirability of avoiding effects on the sporting competitiveness of one regulated club against another, adverse effects on the competitiveness of regulated clubs against other clubs, and adverse effects on financial growth of, or investment in, English football.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 7(1)–(2)

The IFR's regulatory principles say any requirement or restriction it imposes should be proportionate to the expected benefits. Before imposing one, it should consider whether it is necessary and whether a similar outcome could be achieved by less burdensome means. It should also recognise that clubs are already subject to rules imposed by competition organisers, and act as transparently as reasonably practicable.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 8(c)–(e), (h)

The IFR must publish a report on the state of English football, covering the main issues affecting it and any features that risk jeopardising the IFR's objectives. The first report is due no later than 18 months after the first competition-specifying regulations come into force. Each later report is due within five years of the previous one.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 10(1)–(4)

The IFR consists of a Board and, after an initial period, an Expert Panel. The Board has non-executive members (a chair plus up to seven others, appointed by the Secretary of State) and three executive members: the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Finance Officer and one other, all IFR staff. Nobody may be appointed unless the appointer is satisfied they have no conflict of interest.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 2, paras 1–3, 6

The Expert Panel's members are appointed by the Chief Executive Officer, and there must be at least six. Taken together, the members must cover skills and experience in running clubs or competitions and in financial or other regulation. In exercising its functions the Panel must act independently of the Board.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 2, paras 23–24, 30

Yes. Certain functions can be delegated only to a committee of the Board, which cannot delegate them further. They include revoking a provisional operating licence, making removal or disqualification orders, specifying a prohibited competition, triggering the distribution resolution process, making a distribution order, and suspending or revoking a licence.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 2, para 20

Yes, in one specific way. The Secretary of State must appoint a representative of the Football Association as an independent observer of the IFR's proceedings.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 2, para 33

Licensed clubs pay a levy, calculated under rules made by the IFR. The total collected for a period cannot exceed the IFR's estimated costs plus reserves, adjustments for prior-year over- or under-estimates, and unrecovered set-up costs. Rules may exempt some clubs and may charge interest on late payment, capped at 5% a year above the Bank of England base rate.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 53(1)–(3), (7)–(8)

In setting club-by-club amounts, the IFR must have regard, among other things, to the financial resources of each licensed club and the specified competition its team plays in. So the league a club is in and its resources both feed into what it pays.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 53(9)

Yes. Before making, amending or replacing levy rules the IFR must consult the Secretary of State, the Treasury, all regulated clubs and anyone else it considers appropriate, and the consultation must include a draft of the rules. Before each chargeable period starts, the IFR must publish its estimated costs, its actual costs for the previous period, any reserves it plans to raise, and the amount payable by each licensed club.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 54(1)–(4)

Yes. A specified competition organiser must notify the IFR where it considers or suspects a club has breached a relevant rule of its competition. It must also notify the IFR before any penalty or sanction is imposed on the club, and explain why.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 55(1)(c), (3), (5)

Not where the rule is relevant to the IFR's functions. An organiser must consult the IFR before adding, removing or materially varying such a rule, explain why, and include a draft. Non-material variations are exempt.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 55(6)–(8)

The IFR can require any person to give it information it considers necessary for exercising its functions, by a notice that must explain why, and state when, where, how and in what form. The power includes requiring a person to obtain, generate, collect or retain information they would not otherwise hold. The notice must set out the possible enforcement consequences of non-compliance.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 65(1)–(3)

The IFR may appoint an 'expert reporter' to prepare a report on a regulated club on any matter it considers necessary. The club must co-operate and give reasonable assistance, including access to premises, equipment, services, information and individuals. The IFR may make rules requiring the club concerned to pay the appointment costs and the reporter's expenses.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 66(1)–(2), (7), (9)

No. Nothing in the investigatory Part authorises the IFR, its officers or an expert reporter to require production of a privileged communication, or to take possession of or copy one. This covers lawyer-client communications and communications made in connection with or in contemplation of legal proceedings.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 73(1)–(3)

Public bodies including HMRC, the Secretary of State, the Welsh Ministers, the FCA, the National Crime Agency, the Serious Fraud Office and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, to help those bodies' functions. It may also share with the FA, the Premier League, the EFL, the National League and the Women's Professional Leagues for purposes connected with its own functions. Recipients cannot use the information for other purposes or pass it on, except under another law or a court order.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 86(1)–(5)

Disclosing information in breach of the onward-disclosure restriction is a criminal offence, as is disclosing identifiable revenue and customs information without HMRC's consent. It is a defence to prove a reasonable belief that the disclosure was lawful or that the information was already lawfully public. The offence carries up to 2 years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 89(1)–(4)

No. A club may not operate a relevant team unless it holds either a provisional operating licence or a full operating licence. A provisional licence authorises operating a team on a provisional basis before a full licence is granted; a full licence authorises it on an ongoing basis.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 15(1)–(3)

A personnel statement and a statement explaining why the club considers it accurate, plus a strategic business plan. The personnel statement identifies each owner and officer, the ultimate owner, each officer's role, and the senior management functions performed by each senior manager. The business plan covers the proposed operation of the club, estimated costs, how those costs will be funded and the source of the funding, running at least to the end of the next football season.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 16(3)–(6)

The IFR must grant a provisional licence if satisfied the club would operate a relevant team, comply with the mandatory licence conditions, and comply with the duties on clubs in sections 45 to 53. The licence can last no more than three years. If the IFR proposes to refuse, the club gets a notice and at least 14 days to make representations.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 17(2)–(5)

The 'full licence test' is met if the IFR is satisfied the club is operating a relevant team, meets the threshold requirements in Schedule 4, and complies and would continue to comply with the mandatory licence conditions and the club duties. In addition, the IFR must not have determined that any owner or officer of the club is unsuitable. If the test would be met with more time, the IFR can extend the provisional licence instead of refusing.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 18(2)–(3), (6)

There are three: appropriate financial resources, appropriate non-financial resources, and adequate and effective fan engagement. For resources, the IFR may look at things like corporate structure, the financial plan and its risk assessments, the business plan, the competition the team plays in, and the qualifications and performance of owners and officers.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 4, paras 1–3

Four mandatory conditions: a financial plans condition, a corporate governance statement condition, a fan consultation condition, and an annual declaration condition. The financial plan must cover funding sources, expected revenues and expenses, and financial risk plans, and the club must act in accordance with its latest plan. The annual declaration must describe matters notified (or that should have been notified) to the IFR, or state there were none.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 5, paras 1–3, 11

Mandatory conditions are set out in Schedule 5 and attach to every club's licence. Discretionary conditions are extra conditions the IFR may attach to an individual club's licence, but only if satisfied they would ensure or contribute to the club meeting the threshold requirements, or advance the systemic financial resilience objective. A club can apply for a discretionary condition to be varied or removed, and the IFR must remove one it considers no longer necessary.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 20, s. 21(1)–(7)

Yes. A discretionary condition on financial resources may only relate to debt management or liquidity requirements, restrict the club's overall expenditure, or restrict funding the IFR reasonably suspects is connected to serious criminal conduct. A condition on non-financial resources may only relate to internal controls, risk management or financial reporting. An overall-expenditure condition cannot restrict a particular kind of expenditure or a particular transaction.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 22(1)–(4)

Yes. Before attaching or varying a financial discretionary condition, the IFR must notify the club and its competition organiser, who then has at least 14 days to offer a commitment to take action in lieu of the condition. The IFR may accept it if compliance would make the condition unnecessary. While an accepted commitment is in force, the IFR cannot attach that condition.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 23(2)–(4), s. 24(2)–(3)

Only in a narrow case. The IFR can revoke a provisional licence only if the full licence test is not met, the club has persistently and without reasonable excuse failed to take reasonable steps to meet it, and there is no reasonable prospect of meeting it even with more time. If revocation notice is given during a season, the revocation date cannot fall before the end of that season. A licence also ceases automatically if the club stops operating a relevant team.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 19(1)–(6)

More than 25%. An owner is an individual (or registered society) who meets at least one of five conditions: exercising or having the right to exercise significant influence or control over the club; holding, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the club's shares; holding more than 25% of the voting rights; holding the right to appoint or remove an officer; or having significant influence or control over a trust or body that itself meets one of those conditions.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 1, paras 1–2

For a club with a share capital, it means holding shares whose nominal value adds up to more than 25% of the issued share capital. For a club without a share capital, it means holding rights to share in more than 25% of the club's capital or profits. A share held by a nominee counts as held by the person the nominee acts for.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 1, paras 6, 10

Yes. A person holds shares or rights 'indirectly' if they have a majority stake in a company that holds them, or sit at the top of a chain of companies where each has a majority stake in the one below. A 'majority stake' means holding a majority of voting rights, the right to appoint or remove an officer, controlling a majority of votes alone or by agreement, or having dominant influence or control.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 1, para 9

They can be. Shares or rights held jointly are treated as held by each joint holder in full. Where holders have a 'joint arrangement' to exercise all or substantially all their rights jointly in a pre-determined way, each is treated as holding the combined shares or rights. An 'arrangement' includes any scheme, agreement or understanding, even if not legally enforceable, provided it has some stability.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 1, paras 4–5, 12

Generally not. Rights attached to shares held as security are treated as still held by the person who provided the security, where the rights are only exercisable on that person's instructions (apart from preserving or realising the security's value), or where the shares are held in connection with normal lending business and the rights are only exercisable in that person's interests.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 1, para 14

The Secretary of State must publish guidance on the meaning of significant influence or control, which must be taken into account; Parliament has 40 days to object to the draft. The Secretary of State can also change the percentage figures by regulations, up or down, after consulting the IFR.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 1, paras 15–16

The sole owner where there is only one. Where there are several, it is the owner exercising a higher degree of influence or control over the club than any other. If owners are tied at the top level of influence, each of them is an ultimate owner.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 3(2)

For a company, an officer is a director, with equivalent roles for other structures. Anyone carrying out a 'senior management function' is also an officer. So is a person who purports to act as an officer, or whose directions or advice the officers are accustomed to follow — though purely professional advisers are excluded. A 'senior manager' is someone responsible for aspects of the club's affairs whose management could give rise to serious consequences for the club.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 4(1)–(6)

Owners and officers, including senior managers. Owners must meet the individual ownership fitness criteria: requisite honesty and integrity, and financial soundness. Officers must meet those plus requisite competence for their role.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 26(7)–(8)

The prospective owner or officer, and the club itself, must each notify the IFR as soon as reasonably practicable once there is a reasonable prospect of the person taking the role, and before they actually take it. A person may not become an owner at all unless the IFR has made an affirmative determination that they are suitable, on an application covering the proposed operation of the club, estimated costs, funding and its source.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 27(1)–(6), s. 28(1)–(2)

No. A prospective new owner must apply to the IFR, which only clears them if satisfied on the fitness criteria, including that it has no grounds to suspect any source of wealth is connected to serious criminal conduct. If the IFR cannot make that positive finding, it must determine the person is not suitable.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 28(4), (7)–(8)

Yes. An individual cannot become an officer of a regulated club unless the IFR has first determined, on the individual's application, that they are suitable. The IFR must clear them if it considers they meet the officer fitness criteria, and must refuse if it cannot. Determinations and refusals are notified to the club and published.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 29(1)–(7)

When the IFR finds out, it must either give the person a notice requiring them to apply by a specified date, or a notice stating they are not suitable. If the person misses the deadline, the IFR must give a notice that they are not suitable, and that counts as a formal unsuitability determination.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 30(1)–(8)

Yes: a 'determination period' set by regulations, which the IFR can extend by notice up to a maximum also set in regulations. If the IFR misses the deadline, the applicant is automatically treated as determined not suitable. The specific number of days is in regulations, not in the Act itself.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 32(1)–(5)

For honesty and integrity: criminal convictions or proceedings anywhere, conduct abroad that would be a serious offence here, civil proceedings, regulatory or disciplinary action, being barred from entering the UK, and sanctions designation. For financial soundness: bankruptcy or arrangements with creditors, and the financial situation of bodies where the person held responsibility. Competence is judged on qualifications, experience and training. The IFR cannot base a finding solely on a person's connection with a foreign government.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 37(1)–(6)

Yes, but only with cause. The IFR may test an incumbent owner's fitness if it holds information giving it grounds for concern, and may test source of wealth if it has grounds to suspect a link to serious criminal conduct. If the owner fails, the IFR is treated as having determined them unsuitable. Incumbent officers can be re-tested on the same grounds-for-concern basis.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 34(1)–(10), s. 35(1)–(5)

Yes. Both the individual and the club must notify the IFR where they consider there has been, or may have been, a material change in circumstances relevant to whether an owner or officer is suitable. The notification must identify the person, explain the change and why it is relevant, and be given as soon as reasonably practicable.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 33(1)–(4)

Yes. Once a person has been determined unsuitable, the IFR may make an order disqualifying them from being an owner or officer of any regulated club. The order must state its duration, which may be indefinite. At least 14 days for representations must be given before the order is made.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 38(1)–(7)

The IFR must direct an unsuitable owner to take all reasonable steps to cease being an owner within a 'removal period' specified in the direction. Before directing, it must consult the owner, the club and the competition organiser. For an unsuitable officer, the direction can go to the officer, the club, or both, requiring removal within the period.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 39(2)–(5), s. 40(2)–(5)

Yes. It can direct an unsuitable owner or officer not to carry out specified activities or exercise specified rights — including voting on club matters, appointing or removing officers or staff, or changing the corporate structure. If this leaves the club unable to operate effectively, the IFR can appoint an interim officer.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 41(2)–(3), s. 42(1)–(2)

The IFR can make an ownership removal order forcing the owner out by a deadline, including appointing trustees with power to act on the owner's behalf and complete a sale. Trustees need the IFR's approval before any deal, and the IFR can make the owner pay its and the trustees' costs.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 43(1)–(8), s. 44(6)

The mandatory financial plans condition requires the plan to cover funding sources, expected revenues and expenses, and plans for financial risks. The club must act in accordance with its latest plan.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 5, paras 2–3

An amount owed under the levy rules is recoverable as a civil debt due to the IFR. The rules may let the IFR charge interest, at a reduced rate or not at all where it considers that appropriate.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 53(8), (10)–(11)

Fan engagement covers strategic direction, business priorities, operational and match-day issues including ticket pricing, heritage, and plans for further fan engagement. Heritage matters include the club's home ground, any emblem or crest, the predominant home shirt colours, and the team's name.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 4, para 4(2)–(3)

Material changes to the crest or predominant home shirt colours require the club to establish majority support among its fans in England and Wales. Changing the team's name needs Football Association approval.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 49(1)–(2)

Only with the IFR's approval. A club must notify the IFR as soon as there is a reasonable prospect of disposing of any interest in its home ground, or using it as loan security, and must get approval before acting. The IFR must approve only if satisfied the step would not undermine the club's financial sustainability. The duty also covers clubs that were regulated at any point in the previous 5 years.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 46(1)–(7)

Yes. Relocation to a different home ground needs IFR approval, which can only be granted if it would not undermine financial sustainability or significantly harm the club's heritage, and the club has consulted its fans and had regard to their views.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 48(1), (3)–(5)

No. A regulated club must not operate a team in a competition the IFR has specified as prohibited, and the ban follows a club for 10 years after it stops being regulated. In deciding whether to prohibit a competition, the IFR must consider whether it is merit-based, operates on fair and open competition, jeopardises the sustainability of English competitions or clubs, or harms the heritage of English football — and must seek fans' views and consult the FA first.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 45(1)–(9)

No. A club (or one regulated within the previous 5 years) must notify the IFR as soon as there is a reasonable prospect of an administrator being appointed, and the appointment cannot be made without the IFR's written approval. A club in insolvency proceedings must also take reasonable steps to keep its fans informed of progress.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 47(1)–(3), s. 51(1)

'Relevant revenue', meaning revenue an organiser receives from selling or acquiring broadcast rights for matches in its competition. The Secretary of State can add other revenue sources by regulations, but only after consulting the IFR, the FA and each organiser, and only if there has been a material change in circumstances.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 56(2)–(4)

An organiser can apply only if at least one of four conditions is met: no distribution agreement or order is in place; there has been or will be a material reduction in one organiser's relevant revenue; there has been or will be a material change in circumstances since the last agreement or order; or an agreement has been in force for at least five years with no order in effect.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 57(2)–(6)

Before applying, the applicant must notify the other organiser and allow at least 14 days for representations. The IFR must then decide within 28 days whether to trigger the resolution process, extendable by up to a further 28 days for special reasons. It can only trigger the process if a qualifying condition is met, it has reasonable grounds to suspect an objective would otherwise be jeopardised, and no other of its functions could resolve the question in a reasonable time.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 58(3)–(4), s. 59(2), (9)–(10)

The two organisers must appoint a mediator within 14 days of the trigger notice; if they don't, the IFR appoints one. Mediation runs until agreement, until 28 days from the mediator's appointment, until both sides agree to stop, or until the mediator says there is no reasonable prospect of resolution or a party is acting in bad faith. The 28-day period can be extended once, by up to a further 28 days.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 60(2)–(8)

If mediation fails, each organiser submits a proposal with evidence, and the IFR must give notice of its proposed order within 60 days, allowing at least 14 days for representations. The final order must apply two principles: no undue burden on either organiser's commercial interests, and no club receiving less relegation revenue during the relevant one-year period than it would have without the order.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 61(3), s. 62(2)–(8)

Yes. Nothing in the distribution Part stops organisers agreeing at any time how relevant revenue is distributed. If they enter a distribution agreement covering the same seasons after an order is made, the IFR must revoke the order.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 64(3), s. 63(3)–(4)

Operating a relevant team without a licence is one. So is failing to comply with a licence condition, a duty to notify, a direction or order about unsuitable owners or officers, any of the club duties (competitions, home ground, administration, fan consultation, heritage), an accepted commitment, an urgent direction, or any rule made by the IFR.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 7, para 2(1)–(2)

Yes. The Act deems a club to have infringed in certain cases, including where an owner fails to comply with a removal or restriction direction or an ownership removal order, or where an officer fails to comply with a direction. Obstructing an appointed officer, trustee, expert reporter or skilled person is also an infringement.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 7, para 2(3)–(4)

A senior manager commits a relevant infringement if the club, without reasonable excuse, commits an infringement connected to a senior management function the manager carried out. Owners and officers can also commit their own infringements, separate from the club's.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 7, paras 3–5

Yes. Before taking enforcement action the IFR must give a warning notice detailing the proposed action and inviting representations, with at least 14 days to respond. It must consider those representations before giving a decision notice, and it cannot suspend or revoke a licence unless that action was detailed in the warning notice. Notices are published.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 76(1)–(4), s. 77(1)–(3), s. 80

For a club or competition organiser, the maximum fixed penalty is 10% of total revenue, inside and outside the UK, or a daily rate of up to 10% of daily revenue, or both combined. For an owner, the cap is 10% of the club's revenue. For an officer, it is the higher of 10% of their remuneration or £75,000 fixed, and the higher of 10% of daily remuneration or £25,000 per day. For anyone else, £75,000 fixed or £25,000 per day.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 9, para 3(5)–(9)

Only where it determines the club committed a relevant infringement without reasonable excuse and at least one of three aggravating conditions is met: the infringement is intentional and persistent and no lesser sanction would end it; the club has intentionally and persistently failed to co-operate with the investigation, with nothing lesser left; or the infringement jeopardises the IFR's ability to advance one or more of its objectives. Behaviour is 'persistent' if it has occurred often enough to show a pattern.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 9, paras 8–9

For certain infringements, the IFR may accept a commitment about the person's behaviour instead of continuing the investigation. While the commitment has effect, the IFR cannot take enforcement action over that behaviour, but it can reopen matters if circumstances materially change, the commitment is broken, or the information behind it was false or misleading.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 70(1)–(5)

Where the IFR determines a person has committed a relevant infringement without reasonable excuse, the infringement is continuing, and it jeopardises or immediately risks jeopardising the IFR's objectives, the IFR may direct the person to bring it to an end. The direction must state the required or prohibited action and the period involved, which may be indefinite.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 79(1)–(4)

A person who knows or suspects an investigation is being or is likely to be conducted must not, without reasonable excuse, destroy, dispose of, falsify or conceal relevant information, or allow anyone else to. Doing so intentionally or recklessly is a criminal offence, as is knowingly or recklessly giving the IFR false or misleading information — with penalties up to 2 years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 72(1), s. 78(1)–(6)

Yes. The IFR may give any person an 'interview notice' requiring them to answer questions relevant to an investigation, whether or not they are the person under investigation. The notice must include details of the investigation, the place, manner (which may be remote) and time, and the possible consequences of not complying.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 8, para 2

Yes, with a warrant from the High Court or Tribunal, granted where there are reasonable grounds to suspect relevant information is on or accessible from business premises. The warrant lets a named officer enter using reasonably necessary force, search, operate equipment, require people to help (including providing passwords), and take copies or possession of information. The warrant lasts one month, and the powers can only be exercised on production of it.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 8, paras 3–4

Where the IFR determines a person has, without reasonable excuse, failed to comply with an information requirement, or is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt they committed an information offence, it may publish a censure statement naming the person, stating the failure, and explaining why publication is appropriate.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, Sch. 9, paras 1–2

A person directly affected by a reviewable decision can request an internal review within seven days of being told of the right. The IFR must notify the outcome within 28 days, extendable by up to 14 days; if it misses the deadline, the original decision is treated as upheld. Appeals then go to the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 82(1)–(4), s. 83(4)–(6), s. 84(1)

The most serious decisions — licence revocation, deemed unsuitability determinations, disqualification orders, and suspension or revocation under Schedule 9 — are decided afresh 'on the merits'. All other appeals are decided on judicial-review principles. A further appeal lies to the Court of Appeal on a point of law only, with permission.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 84(2)–(3), s. 85(1)–(2)

No. A review request or appeal does not suspend the decision unless the reviewer or the Tribunal directs a suspension. Certain decisions can never be suspended, including directions about unsuitable owners and officers, urgent directions, prohibited-competition specifications, and licence suspension or revocation in the most serious cases.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 82(7)–(8), s. 84(7)–(8)

Yes. If an offence under the Act by a club or company is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of an officer, or to be attributable to an officer's neglect, that officer is guilty of the offence as well and can be punished accordingly.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 95(1), (3)

Possibly. The IFR may make rules requiring a person who requested a review to pay the IFR's review costs, but only where the reviewer actively upheld the decision and both decisions have become final. The rules must require the IFR to consider the person's financial resources when deciding whether to charge and how much.

Law Football Governance Act 2025, s. 83(7)–(9)