Autonomous Governing Body for Football in England
The Independent Football Regulator (IFR), established in July 2025, has taken the helm in reshaping the landscape of English football. With a mandate to ensure financial stability and sustainability, the IFR is poised to play a pivotal role in the governance of the sport.
The IFR, along with the leagues and the Football Association (FA), continues to regulate and run English football outside the finance and governance of clubs. Every club operating in the top five tiers of men's professional football needs a license from the IFR, and compliance with its rules is enforced with strong powers, including the suspension or revocation of a club's operating license.
The IFR has a broad discretion to take account of the different circumstances of each club, and it can impose additional license conditions if it has concerns about the club's financial resources or management. Clubs must meet financial and corporate governance standards to obtain a license, and a provisional operating license can be valid for up to three years while preparing for a full license.
The IFR is funded by an annual levy imposed on the 116 clubs it oversees. It has the power to remove an existing owner of a club if it has grounds for concern, and it applies criteria of honesty, integrity, and financial soundness when considering approvals for new owners.
One of the key aspects of the IFR's remit is the new licensing regime for clubs and a new process to approve the appointment of a club's owners and senior officers. The IFR has an expert panel and committees to review its decisions, and it can intervene and impose a settlement in the event of a dispute between the Premier League and English Football League over the redistribution of broadcast revenue.
In 2026, the IFR will publish a 'State of the Game' report, providing insights into the current state and future direction of English football under its regulatory regime. The IFR is run by a chair, CEO, board, and officials, and it has considerable discretion in how it develops and enforces the new regulatory regime.
As the IFR continues to shape the future of English football, it is expected to play a vital role in maintaining the integrity and financial stability of the sport for years to come.
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