Football Governance Act 2025

41 Directions relating to unsuitable owners and officers

(1) This section applies where, under any provision of this Part, the IFR determines or is treated as having determined—

(a) that a person who is an owner of a regulated club is not suitable to be an owner of the club, or

(b) that a person who is an officer of a regulated club is not suitable to be an officer of the club.

(2) The IFR may give one or both of the following—

(a) a direction to the person prohibiting the person (wholly or to an extent specified in the direction) from carrying out such of the person’s activities, or exercising such of their rights, as an owner or officer as are specified or described in the direction;

(b) a direction to the club requiring it to secure that the person does not (wholly or to an extent specified in the direction) carry out such of those activities, or exercise such of those rights, as are specified or described in the direction.

(3) A direction under this section may, among other things, contain provision prohibiting or (in the case of a direction under subsection (2)(b)) provision aimed at prohibiting the person to whom it relates from—

(a) exercising any right, whether or not by virtue of the holding of shares, stock or securities, to vote on any matter relating to the carrying on of the club’s activities;

(b) appointing, terminating the appointment of, changing the terms of appointment or the responsibilities of, any officer or employee of the club;

(c) making changes to the corporate structure of the club;

(d) doing anything specified or described in the direction without obtaining the prior approval of the IFR.

(4) A direction under this section—

(a) comes into force at the time specified by or determined in accordance with the direction;

(b) has effect for the period specified in the direction;

(c) may be varied or revoked by a further direction.

(5) At the same time as giving a direction under this section, the IFR must—

(a) in the case of a direction under subsection (2)(a), give a notice to the person and to the club of which the person is an owner or officer including information about the possible consequences under this Part and Part 8 of not complying with the direction;

(b) in the case of a direction under subsection (2)(b), give a notice to the club including information about the possible consequences under Part 8 of not complying with the direction.