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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 18
SPORTS GROUNDS AND SPORTING
EVENTS, ENGLAND AND WALES
The Football Governance Act 2025 (Suitability Determination
Period for Owners and Officers) Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 9th January 2026
Laid before Parliament 12th January 2026
Coming into force - - 2nd February 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 32(2)
(a) and (4) of the Football Governance Act 2025(1).
In accordance with section 32(6) of the Football Governance Act 2025 the Secretary of State has
consulted such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Football Governance Act 2025 (Suitability
Determination Period for Owners and Officers) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 2nd
February 2026.
(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.
(3) In these Regulations “the Act” means the Football Governance Act 2025.
Determination period for suitability assessments
2.—(1) For the purposes of section 32(2)(a) of the Act, the determination period in respect of an
application is 90 days beginning on the day after the IFR(2) receives the application duly made in
accordance with section 28 or 29 of the Act (as the case may be).
(2) For the purposes of section 32(4) of the Act, the determination period in respect of an
application may not be extended under section 32(3) of the Act so that it exceeds a period of 150 days
beginning on the day after the IFR receives the application duly made in accordance with section 28
or 29 of the Act (as the case may be).
(1) 2025 (c. 21).
(2) IFR is defined at section 2(1) of the Football Governance Act 2025 c. 21.Document Generated: 2026-02-02
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
9th January 2026 Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2Document Generated: 2026-02-02
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations are made under section 32(2)(a) and (4) of the Football Governance Act 2025
(“the Act”). Section 32 requires the Independent Football Regulator (“IFR”) to make a determination
as to whether a person is suitable to be an owner or officer of a club within a specified determination
period.
Regulation 2(1) specifies the initial determination period for the purposes of section 32(2)(a) of the
Act. The initial determination period runs for 90 days, beginning on the day after the IFR receives
an application that is made in accordance with section 28 or section 29 of the Act. An application
is made in accordance with those sections where it complies with the statutory requirements as to
information, form and manner, including the information requirements specified in rules made by
the IFR under those sections.
Regulation 2(2) specifies the maximum period by which the initial determination period can be
extended under section 32(3) of the Act, for the purposes of section 32(4). The effect is that the total
determination period may not exceed 150 days, beginning on the same day referred to in paragraph 2.
Under section 32(5) of the Act, if the IFR does not make a determination within the determination
period, the IFR is treated as having determined that the person is not suitable to be an owner or
officer (as applicable) of a club.
A full impact assessment was prepared in relation to the Act. No further impact assessment has been
produced as the effect of the Regulations is limited to applying the provisions of the Act, the impact
of which has already been assessed. Copies of the Impact Assessment for the Act are available
from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 100 Parliament Street, London SW1A 2BQ
and at www.legislation.gov.uk, where it may be read alongside this instrument and its Explanatory
Memorandum. Hard copies of these documents are available from the same postal address.
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