SI 2026/1135 - The Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2026

Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2026 No. 1135 (C. 95) SPORTS GROUNDS AND SPORTING EVENTS, ENGLAND AND WALES The Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2026 Made - - - - 27th October 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. 5) Regulations 2026.

(2) In these Regulations “the Act” means the Football Governance Act 2025.

Provisions coming into force on 29th October 2026

2.—(1) The day appointed for the coming into force of the following provisions of the Act (so far as not already in force as a result of section 100(2)(g) of the Act) is 29th October 2026—

(a) in Part 6 (distribution of revenue)—

(i)section 56 (overview and interpretation);

(ii)section 57 (applications for resolution process to be triggered);

(iii)section 58 (applications under section 57: procedural and other requirements);

(iv)section 59 (decisions by the IFR on applications under section 57);

(v)section 60 (the mediation stage);

(vi)section 61 (proposal stage);

(vii)section 62 (distribution orders);

(viii)section 63 (duration and revocation of distribution orders);

(ix)section 64 (review of distribution orders, payment of costs, etc);

(b) in Part 7 (investigatory powers etc)—

(1) 2025 c. 21.Document Generated: 2026-10-29

Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

(i)section 67 (meaning of “relevant infringement”) so far as it relates to the provisions brought into force by paragraph (ii);

(ii)the provisions of Schedule 7 (meaning of “relevant infringement”) specified in paragraph (2);

(iii)section 70 (commitments in lieu of investigations) so far as it relates to the provisions brought into force by paragraph (ii).

(2) The provisions of Schedule 7 specified for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(ii) are—

(a) paragraph 1 so far as it relates to the provision specified in sub-paragraph (b);

(b) paragraph 6(c) (a distribution order made under section 62).

Provisions coming into force on 1st November 2026

3.—(1) The day appointed for the coming into force of the following provisions of the Act (so far as not already in force as a result of section 100(2) of the Act) is 1st November 2026—

(a) in Part 3 (operating licences)—

(i)section 15 (operating licences) except subsection (1);

(ii)section 16 (application for provisional operating licence);

(iii)section 17 (grant of provisional operating licence);

(iv)section 18 (grant of full operating licence);

(v)section 19 (revocation and cessation of operating licence);

(vi)section 20 (mandatory licence conditions);

(vii)section 21 (discretionary licence conditions);

(viii)section 22 (scope of powers to attach or vary discretionary licence conditions);

(ix)section 23 (procedure for attaching or varying financial discretionary licence conditions);

(x)section 24 (commitments in lieu of financial discretionary licence conditions);

(xi)section 25 (procedure for attaching or varying other discretionary licence conditions);

(xii)Schedule 4 (threshold requirements) so far as not already in force;

(xiii)Schedule 5 (mandatory licence conditions);

(xiv)Schedule 6 (commitments in lieu of financial discretionary licence conditions);

(b) in Part 5 (duties on clubs and competition organisers etc)—

(i)section 52 (duty to publish a personnel statement);

(ii)section 55 (duties to notify and consult the IFR) so far as not already in force;

(c) in Part 7 (investigatory powers etc)—

(i)section 67 (meaning of “relevant infringement”) so far as it relates to the provisions brought into force by paragraph (ii);

(ii)the provisions of Schedule 7 (meaning of “relevant infringement”) specified in paragraph (2);

(iii)section 70 (commitments in lieu of investigations) so far as it relates to the provisions of Schedule 7 specified in paragraph (2)(a), (b) and (c);

(d) in Part 8 (enforcement)—

(i)section 75 (sanctions) so far as not already in force;

2Document Generated: 2026-10-29

Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

(ii)Schedule 9 (sanctions) so far as not already in force.

(2) The provisions of Schedule 7 specified for the purposes of paragraph (1)(c)(ii) are—

(a) paragraph 1 so far as it relates to the provisions specified in sub-paragraphs (b) to (e);

(b) paragraph 2(2)(a);

(c) paragraph 2(2)(e) so far as it relates to a requirement imposed by section 52;

(d) paragraph 2(4)(a);

(e) paragraph 6 so far as not already in force.

Lisa Nandy Secretary of State Department for Digital, Culture, Media and 27th October 2026 Sport 3Document Generated: 2026-10-29

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 bring into force specified provisions of the Football Governance Act 2025 (c. 21) (“the Act”) on 29th October 2026 and 1st November 2026. Certain provisions came into force on Royal Assent by virtue of section 100(2). They are the fifth set of commencement Regulations made under the Act.

Regulation 2(1)(a) brings into force sections 56 to 64 in Part 6 of the Act (distribution of revenue) which are the IFR’s targeted backstop powers to intervene in the distribution of relevant revenue (presently defined as broadcast revenue) between specified competition organisers. These backstop powers include ordering mediation between those competition organisers and, when those organisers are unable to reach agreement during that mediation stage, to make distribution orders.

Regulation 2(1)(b)(ii) brings into force a certain provision of Schedule 7 (which sets out when a person commits a relevant infringement) and regulation 2(2) specifies that provision. The provision is failure by a specified competition organiser to comply with a distribution order made under

section 62 (as specified in regulation 2(2)(b)). Regulation 2(1)(b)(i) brings into force section 67 so far as necessary to give effect to regulation 2(1)(b)(ii) and regulation 2(2). Regulation 2(1)(b)(iii) brings into force section 70 so far as necessary to make the provision of Schedule 7 specified in regulation 2(2)(b) the subject of an appropriate commitment received by the IFR from a person.

The day appointed for the coming into force of the provisions in regulation 2 is 29th October 2026.

Regulation 3(1)(a) brings into force the football club licensing regime set out in sections 15 to 25, Schedule 4 (threshold requirements), Schedule 5 (mandatory licence conditions), and Schedule 6 (commitments in lieu of financial discretionary licence conditions) of the Act. These provisions establish a licensing regime for the operation of a football team, which is to be administered by the IFR. They set threshold requirements as a condition of licences being granted, provisions for IFR to impose mandatory and discretionary conditions on operating licences, to attach or vary financial discretionary licence conditions, and to accept a commitment from a specified competition organiser in lieu of financial discretionary licence conditions. Section 15(1) which states that a club may not operate a relevant team without a full or provisional licence is not commenced by these Regulations and, accordingly, a failure by a club to obtain such licences is not yet a “relevant infringement” under Schedule 7.

Regulation 3(1)(b) brings into force provisions of Part 5 of the Act (duties on clubs and competition organisers etc) namely section 52 which requires licensed clubs to prepare and submit a personnel statement to the Independent Football Regulator (“IFR”) for approval (so far as not already in force by virtue of section 100(2)(g)) and the remaining part of section 55, namely section 55(1)(b), which requires a specified competition organiser to notify the IFR when it has failed or considers there is an immediate risk of its failure to comply with a commitment accepted by the IFR under section 24.

Regulation 3(1)(c)(ii) brings into force certain provisions of Schedule 7 (which sets out when a person commits a relevant infringement) and regulation 3(2) specifies those provisions. These provisions are a failure by a club to comply with a condition attached to a licence (specified in regulation 3(2)(b)), failure by a club to comply with a requirement imposed on it by section 52 (specified in regulation 3(2)(c)), where a club is deemed to have committed a relevant infringement because the IFR has, instead of granting a club a full operating licence, specified a further period for which the club’s provisional licence is to have effect or has revoked that licence (specified in regulation 3(2)(d)), and the remaining provisions of paragraph 6 to be brought into force, namely where a specified competition organiser has failed to comply with a commitment accepted by 4Document Generated: 2026-10-29

Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. the IFR under section 24 and to comply with a requirement imposed by section 55 (duties to notify and consult with the IFR) (specified in regulation 3(2)(e)). Regulation 3(1)(c)(i) brings into force section 67 so far as necessary to give effect to regulation 3(1)(c)(ii). Regulation 3(1)(c)(iii) brings into force section 70 so far as necessary to make the provision of Schedule 7 specified in regulation 3(2)(b), namely failure by a club to comply with a condition attached to a licence and in regulation 3(2)(c), namely failure by a club to comply with a requirement imposed by section 52, the subjects of appropriate commitments received by the IFR from a person.

Regulation 3(1)(d) brings into force section 75 (sanctions) and Schedule 9 (sanctions) so far as not already in force.

The day appointed for the coming into force of the provisions in regulation 3 is 1st November 2026.

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 Digital, 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 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) 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 5Document Generated: 2026-10-29

Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

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 1 July 2026 (for all remaining 2026/705 purposes)

section 47 5 May 2026 2026/477 sections 48 to 50 1 July 2026 2026/705

section 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 1 July 2026 (partially) 2026/705 sections 68 and 69 12 December 2025 2025/1286

section 70 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286 5 May 2026 (partially) 2026/477 1 July 2026 (partially) 2026/705 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 4 1 July 2026 (partially) 2026/705 Schedule 7 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286 5 May 2026 (partially) 2026/477 1 July 2026 (partially) 2026/705 6Document Generated: 2026-10-29

Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Schedule 8 12 December 2025 2025/1286 Schedule 9 12 December 2025 (partially) 2025/1286 Schedule 10 12 December 2025 2025/1286 Schedule 12 12 December 2025 (for all 2025/1286 remaining purposes) 7