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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 705 (C. 60)
SPORTS GROUNDS AND SPORTING
EVENTS, ENGLAND AND WALES
The Football Governance Act 2025
(Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 29th June 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. 4) Regulations 2026.
(2) In these Regulations “the Act” means the Football Governance Act 2025.
Provisions coming into force on 1st July 2026
2.—(1) The day appointed for the coming into force of the following provisions of the Act is
1st July 2026—
(a) in Part 5 (duties on clubs and competition organisers etc)—
(i)section 46 (duty not to dispose etc of home ground without approval) so far as not
already in force;
(ii)section 48 (duty not to relocate without approval);
(iii)section 49 (duty not to change crest, home shirt colours or name without approval);
(iv)section 50 (duty to notify of changes in circumstances relevant to the IFR’s
functions);
(b) in Part 7 (investigatory powers etc)—
(i)section 67 (meaning of “relevant infringement”) so far as it relates to the provisions
being brought into force by paragraph (ii);
(ii)the provisions of Schedule 7 (meaning of “relevant infringement”) specified in
paragraph (2);
(1) 2025 c. 21.Document Generated: 2026-07-01
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(iii)section 70 (commitments in lieu of investigations) so far as it relates to paragraph
2(2)(e) of Schedule 7;
(c) paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 4 (threshold requirements) so far as it relates to section 48(4)
(c).
(2) The provisions in Schedule 7 specified for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(ii) are—
(a) paragraph 1 so far as it relates to the provisions being brought into force by sub-paragraphs
(b) and (c);
(b) paragraph 2(2)(e) so far as it relates to the provisions in Part 5 being brought into force
by paragraph 2(1)(a);
(c) paragraph 7(b) so far as it relates to the section 46.
Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
29th June 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 1st July 2026. They are the fourth set of commencement regulations made under the
Act.
Regulation 2(1)(a) brings into force a number of provisions in Part 5 of the Act (duties on clubs and
competition organisers etc) which will prevent regulated clubs from making changes to key elements
of their heritage without taking steps to obtain the views of their fans.
Regulations 2(1)(b), (c) and 2 bring into force provisions of Part 7 and Schedule 7 so far as they
relate to the duties brought into force by regulation 2(1)(a).
Regulation 2(1)(c) will commence the relevant part of Schedule 7 in order for section 48(4)(c) of
the Act, which is commenced by regulation (2)(1)(a)(ii), to have legal effect.
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 ORDERS
(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 12 December 2025 2025/1286
section 27 5 May 2026 2026/477
sections 28 and 29 5 May 2026 (for all remaining 2026/477
purposes)
sections 30 and 31 5 May 2026 2026/477
section 32 5 May 2026 (for all remaining 2026/477
purposes)
section 33 12 December 2025 2025/1286
section 34 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286
5 May 2026 (for all remaining 2026/477
purposes)
section 35 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286
5 May 2026 (for all remaining 2026/477
purposes)
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Provision Date of Commencement S.I. No.
sections 36 to 38 12 December 2025 2025/1286
section 39 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286
5 May 2026 (for all remaining 2026/477
purposes)
section 40 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286
5 May (for all remaining 2026/477
purposes)
sections 41 and 42 12 December 2025 2025/1286
section 43 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286
5 May 2026 (for all remaining 2026/477
purposes)
section 44 12 December 2025 2025/1286
section 45 5 May 2026 (for all remaining 2026/477
purposes)
section 46 5 May 2026 (partially) 2026/477
sections 47 and 51 5 May 2026 2026/477
section 55 5 May 2026 (partially) 2026/477
sections 65 and 66 1 November 2025 2025/1134
section 67 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286
5 May 2026 (partially) 2026/477
sections 68 and 69 12 December 2026 2025/1286
section 70 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286
5 May 2026 (partially) 2026/477
sections 71 and 72 12 December 2025 2025/1286
section 73 1 November 2025 2025/1134
section 74 12 December 2025 2025/1286
section 75 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286
sections 76 to 87 12 December 2025 2025/1286
section 89 12 December 2025 2025/1286
section 95 12 December 2025 2025/1286
section 98 12 December 2025 (for all 2025/1286
remaining purposes)
Schedule 7 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286
5 May 2026 (partially) 2026/477
Schedule 8 12 December 2025 2025/1286
Schedule 9 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286
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Provision Date of Commencement S.I. No.
Schedule 10 12 December 2025 2025/1286
Schedule 12 12 December 2025 (for all 2025/1286
remaining purposes)
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