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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 477 (C. 39)
SPORTS GROUNDS AND SPORTING
EVENTS, ENGLAND AND WALES
The Football Governance Act 2025
(Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 29th April 2026
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. 3) Regulations 2026.
(2) In these Regulations “the Act” means the Football Governance Act 2025.
Provisions coming into force on 5th May 2026
2.—(1) The following provisions of the Act come into force on 5th May 2026—
(a) in Part 4 (owners and officers of regulated clubs: suitability etc)—
(i)section 27 (duties to notify IFR of prospective new owner or officer);
(ii)section 28 (determination of suitability required for new owner) so far as not already
in force;
(iii)section 29 (determination of suitability required for new officer) so far as not already
in force;
(iv)section 30 (becoming an owner or officer without a determination);
(v)section 31 (opportunity to make representations about proposed negative
determinations);
(vi)section 32 (determinations under sections 28 and 29: time limits) so far as not already
in force;
(vii)section 34 (incumbent owners) so far as not already in force;
(viii)section 35 (incumbent officers) so far as not already in force;
(1) 2025 c. 21.Document Generated: 2026-05-01
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(ix)section 39 (removal directions: owners) so far as not already in force;
(x)section 40 (removal directions: officers) so far as not already in force;
(xi)section 43 (ownership removal orders) so far as not already in force;
(b) in Part 5 (duties on clubs and competition organisers etc)—
(i)section 45 (duty not to operate a team in relation to a prohibited competition) so far
as not already in force;
(ii)section 46(2) (duty not to dispose etc of home ground without approval);
(iii)section 47 (duty not to appoint administrator without approval);
(iv)section 51 (duty to keep fans informed of insolvency proceedings);
(v)section 55 (duties to notify and consult the IFR) except in so far as it relates to
section 24;
(c) 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 sub-paragraph (iii);
(ii)section 70 (commitments in lieu of investigations) so far as relating to the provisions
being brought into force by sub-paragraph (iii);
(iii)the provisions of Schedule 7 (meaning of “relevant infringement”) specified in
paragraph (2).
(2) The provisions in Schedule 7 specified for the purposes of paragraph (1)(c)(iii) are—
(a) paragraph 1 so far as relating to the provisions being brought into force by sub-paragraphs
(b) to (e) and so far as not already in force;
(b) in sub paragraph (2) of paragraph (2)—
(i)paragraph (b) so far as not already in force;
(ii)paragraph (e) so far as relating to a requirement imposed by sections 45, 47 or 51;
(c) paragraphs 3 and 4 so far as not already in force;
(d) paragraph 6(b);
(e) paragraph 7(a) and (c).
Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
29th April 2026 Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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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 5th May 2026. They are the third 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. A number of other provisions were brought into force by the Football Governance
Act (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1134) and the Football Governance Act
(Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1286).
Regulation 2(1)(a) brings into force a number of provisions in Part 4 of the Act (owners and
officers of regulated clubs: suitability etc) which provides for the Independent Football Regulator to
determine the suitability of persons to be owners and officers of regulated clubs and to take action
to ensure the removal of owners and officers who are not suitable.
Regulation 2(1)(b) commences a number of provisions in Part 5 of the Act (duties on clubs and
competition organisers etc). Regulation 2(1)(b)(iii) will bring into force section 47 (duty not to
appoint administrator without approval) of the Act. As section 47 applies to a body to which
section 46(2) applies, the latter provision is commenced at sub-paragraph (2)(b)(ii) to ensure that
section 47(2) of the Act can operate effectively.
Regulation 2(1)(c) brings into force provisions in Part 7 of the Act (investigatory powers etc)
including the provisions of Schedule 7 specified in regulation 2(2).
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 26 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 33 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 34 (partially) 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 35 (partially) 12th December 2025 2025/1286
sections 36 to 38 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 39 (partially) 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 40 (partially) 12th December 2025 2025/1286
sections 41 and 42 12th December 2025 2025/1286
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Provision Date of Commencement S.I. No.
section 43 (partially) 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 44 12th December 2025 2025/1286
sections 65 and 66 1st November 2025 2025/1134
section 67 (partially) 12th December 2025 2025/1286
Schedule 7 (partially) 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 68 12th December 2025 2025/1286
Schedule 8 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 69 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 70 (partially) 12th December 2025 2025/1286
sections 71 and 72 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 73 1st November 2025 2025/1134
section 74 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 75 (partially) 12th December 2025 2025/1286
Schedule 9 (partially) 12th December 2025 2025/1286
sections 76 to 80 12th December 2025 2025/1286
sections 81 to 85 12th December 2025 2025/1286
Schedule 10 12th December 2025 2025/1286
sections 86 and 87 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 89 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 95 12th December 2025 2025/1286
section 98 (remainder) 12th December 2025 2025/1286
Schedule 12 (remainder) 12th December 2025 2025/1286
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