2025 No. 1286 (C. 66)

SPORTS GROUNDS AND SPORTING EVENTS, ENGLAND AND WALES

The Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025

Made8th December 2025

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 100(1) of the Football Governance Act 2025¹.

1 Citation and interpretation¶

1 These Regulations may be cited as the Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025.

2 In these Regulations “the Act” means the Football Governance Act 2025.

2 Provisions coming into force on 12th December 2025¶

1 The day appointed for the coming into force of the following provisions of the Act, so far as not already in force (see section 100(2)) of the Act), is 12th December 2025—

a in Part 4 (owners and officers of regulated clubs: suitability etc)—

i section 26 (Part 4: overview and interpretation);

ii section 33 (duties to notify IFR of change in circumstances relating to incumbent owner or officer);

iii section 34 (incumbent owners) except in so far as it relates to a determination under section 28;

iv section 35 (incumbent officers) except in so far as it relates to a determination under section 29;

v section 36 (opportunity to make representations about proposed negative findings);

vi section 37 (matters relevant to determinations);

vii section 38 (disqualification orders);

viii section 39 (removal directions: owners) except in so far as it relates to a determination under section 28;

ix section 40 (removal directions: officers) except in so far as it relates to a determination under section 29;

x section 41 (directions relating to unsuitable owners and officers);

xi section 42 (orders and directions effecting alternative officer arrangements);

xii section 43 (ownership removal orders) except in so far as it relates to a determination under section 28;

xiii section 44 (orders under section 43: procedure, costs and liabilities);

b 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 paragraph (ii);

ii the provisions of Schedule 7 (meaning of “relevant infringement”) specified in paragraph (2);

iii section 68 (investigations);

iv Schedule 8 (investigatory powers);

v section 69 (outcomes of investigations);

vi section 70 (commitments in lieu of investigations) so far as relating to the provisions being brought into force by paragraph (ii);

vii section 71 (section 70: supplementary);

viii section 72 (duty to preserve information);

ix section 74 (requirement to publish certain notices etc);

c in Part 8 (enforcement)—

i section 75 (sanctions) so far as relating to the provisions being brought into force by paragraph (ii);

ii paragraphs 1 to 7 and 10 to 15 of Schedule 9 (sanctions);

iii sections 76 to 78 (warning notices, decision notices and offences);

iv section 79 (urgent directions);

v section 80 (requirement to publish certain notices etc);

d Part 9 (reviews and appeals) (and Schedule 10 (reviews));

e in Part 10 (general)—

i section 86 (disclosure of information by the IFR);

ii section 87 (disclosure of information to the IFR etc);

iii section 89 (information offences);

iv section 95 (offences by officers of clubs and bodies corporate);

v section 98 (minor and consequential amendments) for all remaining purposes;

vi Schedule 12 (minor and consequential amendments) for all remaining purposes.

2 The provisions of Schedule 7 specified for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(ii) are—

a paragraph 1 so far as relating to the provisions being brought into force by sub-paragraphs (b) to (f);

b in paragraph 2—

i in sub-paragraph (2)—

aa paragraph (b) so far as relating to a requirement imposed by section 33;

bb paragraphs (c), (d), (f), (g) and (h);

ii sub-paragraph (3);

iii sub-paragraph (4)(b), (c) and (d);

c paragraphs 3 and 4 except in so far as they relate to a requirement imposed by section 27;

d paragraph 5;

e paragraph 6(d), (e) and (f);

f paragraph 7(d) and (e).

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 12th December 2025. They are the second 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.

Regulation 2(1)(a) brings into force those provisions of Part 4 of the Act (owners and officers of regulated clubs: suitability etc) which relate to incumbent owners and officers.

Regulation 2(1)(b) and (2) brings into force Part 7 of the Act (investigatory powers etc), so far as not already in force, including specified provisions of Schedule 7 to the Act (meaning of “relevant infringement”). The provisions of Schedule 7 being commenced confer investigatory functions on the IFR and are commenced to the extent that they apply in relation to existing regulated clubs and incumbent owners and officers; provisions relating to operating licences, the levy and free-standing duties are not being commenced by these Regulations.

Regulation 2(1)(c) brings into force Part 8 of the Act (enforcement), including specified provisions of Schedule 9 to the Act (sanctions).

Regulation 2(1)(d) brings into force Part 9 of the Act (reviews and appeals), including Schedule 10 to the Act (reviews), so far as not already in force.

Regulation 2(1)(e) brings into force specified provisions of Part 10 of the Act (general).

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-2024-supporting-documents or by writing to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 100 Parliament Street, SW1A 2BQ, London, United Kingdom.

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 65	1st November 2025	2025/1134
Section 66	1st November 2025	2025/1134
Section 73	1st November 2025	2025/1134

Footnotes

1
2025 c. 21.