Football Governance Act 2025

27 Duties to notify IFR of prospective new owner or officer

(1) A person who—

(a) is not an owner of a particular regulated club, but

(b) considers that there is a reasonable prospect of the person becoming an owner of that club,

must notify the IFR of that fact.

(2) An individual who—

(a) is not an officer of a particular regulated club, but

(b) considers that there is a reasonable prospect of the individual becoming an officer of that club,

must notify the IFR of that fact.

(3) A regulated club must notify the IFR where it considers there is a reasonable prospect of—

(a) a person becoming an owner of the club, or

(b) an individual becoming an officer of the club.

(4) In this section—

(a) references to a prospective owner are to a person who is the subject of a notification under subsection (1) or (3)(a);

(b) references to a prospective officer are to an individual who is the subject of a notification under subsection (2) or (3)(b).

(5) A notification under this section must—

(a) identify the prospective owner or officer,

(b) explain why the person giving the notification considers there is a reasonable prospect of the prospective owner becoming an owner of the club or (as the case may be) of the prospective officer becoming an officer of the club, and

(c) in relation to a prospective officer, state—

(i) their proposed job title or a description of the job proposed to be performed by them, and

(ii) any senior management functions to be carried out by them.

(6) A notification under subsection (1), (2) or (3) must be given—

(a) as soon as reasonably practicable after the duty under that subsection arises, and

(b) before the prospective owner or officer becomes an owner or officer of the club.

(7) Where a notification under this section is not given by the time mentioned in subsection (6)(b), the person or individual who, or club which, should have given the notification must notify the IFR of the fact that (as the case may be)—

(a) the person has become an owner of the club, or

(b) the individual has become an officer of the club,

and must do so as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of that fact.