Football Governance Act 2025

Section 67

Schedule 7 Meaning of “relevant infringement”

Introduction

1 This Schedule sets out when a person commits a relevant infringement for the purposes of this Act.

Relevant infringements committed by clubs

2 (1) A club commits a relevant infringement if it—

(a) operates a relevant team, and

(b) does not hold an operating licence.

(2) A club also commits a relevant infringement if the club fails to comply with—

(a) a condition attached to an operating licence held by it;

(b) a requirement imposed on it by section 27 or 33;

(c) a direction given to it under section 40, 41 or 42;

(d) a requirement imposed on it by or under an order under section 43;

(e) a duty or prohibition imposed on it by any of sections 45 to 53;

(f) a commitment accepted under section 70;

(g) an urgent direction under section 79;

(h) any rule made by the IFR.

(3) A club also commits a relevant infringement if the club fails to co-operate with or assist, or otherwise obstructs—

(a) an individual appointed as an officer by virtue of an order under section 42;

(b) a trustee appointed by virtue of an order under section 43;

(c) an expert reporter appointed under section 66;

(d) a skilled person appointed by virtue of paragraph 5 of Schedule 9.

(4) A club is deemed to have committed a relevant infringement if—

(a) instead of granting the club a full operating licence in accordance with section 18(6)(a), the IFR—

(i) specifies a further period for which the club’s provisional operating licence is to have effect in accordance with section 18(6)(b), or

(ii) revokes the club’s provisional operating licence in accordance with section 19;

(b) an owner of the club fails to comply with—

(i) a direction given to the owner under section 39 or 41, or

(ii) a requirement imposed on the owner by or under an order under section 43;

(c) an officer of the club fails to comply with a direction given to the officer under section 40 or 41;

(d) an owner or officer of the club fails to co-operate with or assist, or otherwise obstructs—

(i) an individual appointed as an officer by virtue of an order under section 42;

(ii) a trustee appointed by virtue of an order under section 43.

Relevant infringements committed by owners of clubs

3 An owner of a club commits a relevant infringement if the owner—

(a) fails to comply with a requirement imposed on the owner by section 27 or 33;

(b) fails to comply with—

(i) a direction given to the owner under section 39 or 41, or

(ii) a requirement imposed on the owner by or under an order under section 43;

(c) fails to co-operate with or assist, or otherwise obstructs—

(i) an individual appointed as an officer by virtue of an order under section 42;

(ii) a trustee appointed by virtue of an order under section 43;

(d) fails to comply with a commitment accepted under section 70;

(e) fails to comply with an urgent direction under section 79;

(f) fails to comply with any rule made by the IFR.

Relevant infringements committed by officers of clubs

4 An officer of a club commits a relevant infringement if the officer—

(a) fails to comply with a requirement imposed on the officer by section 27 or 33;

(b) fails to comply with a direction given to the officer under section 40 or 41;

(c) fails to co-operate with or assist, or otherwise obstructs—

(i) an individual appointed as an officer by virtue of an order under section 42;

(ii) a trustee appointed by virtue of an order under section 43;

(d) fails to comply with a commitment accepted under section 70;

(e) fails to comply with an urgent direction under section 79;

(f) fails to comply with any rule made by the IFR.

Relevant infringements committed by senior managers of clubs

5 (1) A senior manager of a club commits a relevant infringement if—

(a) the club, without reasonable excuse, commits a relevant infringement, and

(b) the relevant infringement is connected to a senior management function carried out by the senior manager.

(2) A senior manager also commits a relevant infringement if the senior manager fails to comply with a commitment accepted under section 70.

Relevant infringements committed by specified competition organisers

6 A specified competition organiser commits a relevant infringement if the organiser fails to comply with—

(a) a commitment accepted by the IFR under section 24;

(b) a requirement imposed by section 55 (duties to notify and consult with the IFR);

(c) a distribution order made under section 62;

(d) a commitment accepted under section 70;

(e) an urgent direction under section 79;

(f) any rule made by the IFR.

Relevant infringements committed by other persons

7 A person who is not a club, an owner or officer of a club or a specified competition organiser commits a relevant infringement if the person fails to comply with a requirement imposed on the person by—

(a) section 27 (duty to notify where prospect of becoming a new owner or officer);

(b) section 46 (duty not to dispose of etc home ground without approval);

(c) section 47 (duty not to appoint administrator without approval);

(d) an urgent direction under section 79;

(e) any rule made by the IFR.