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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2025 No. 1286 (C. 66)
SPORTS GROUNDS AND SPORTING
EVENTS, ENGLAND AND WALES
The Football Governance Act 2025
(Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025
Made - - - - 8th December 2025
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 100(1)
of the Football Governance Act 2025(1).
Citation and interpretation
1.—(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.
Provisions coming into force on 12th December 2025
2.—(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);
(1) 2025 c. 21.Document Generated: 2025-12-12
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(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—
2Document Generated: 2025-12-12
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(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).
Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
8th December 2025 Department for Culture, Media and Sport
3Document Generated: 2025-12-12
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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
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