Football Governance Act 2025

48 Duty not to relocate without approval

(1) A regulated club must notify the IFR where the club considers that there is a reasonable prospect of the club entering into arrangements whereby a relevant team operated by it would play its home matches at a ground other than the club’s home ground.

(2) A notification under subsection (1) must be given as soon as reasonably practicable after the club considers the duty under that subsection to have arisen.

(3) The club must obtain the approval of the IFR before it enters into the arrangements mentioned in subsection (1).

(4) The IFR must grant approval for the club entering into those arrangements if it is satisfied that —

(a) the arrangements would not undermine the financial sustainability of the club,

(b) the arrangements would not cause significant harm to the heritage of the club,

(c) the club has taken reasonable steps to determine the views of its fans about the effect of the arrangements on the relevant matters set out in paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 4, and

(d) the club has had regard to those views in considering whether to enter into the arrangements.

(5) The IFR may not grant approval in any other circumstances.

(6) The IFR must, as soon as reasonably practicable after the club has sought approval, decide whether to grant approval under subsection (4).

(7) The IFR must notify the club of its decision to grant, or not to grant, that approval and give reasons for its decision.

(8) In this section “home ground”, in relation to a regulated club, has the meaning given by section 46(10)(a).