Navigating reputational risks under the Independent Football Regulator (Part 1): Foundational compliance

The establishment of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) marks a watershed moment for English football. Following Royal Assent of the Football Governance Act 2025 (the Act) on 21 July 2025, clubs across the top five tiers now face an unprecedented level of statutory oversight that extends far beyond traditional financial regulation into governance, fan engagement, heritage protection, and operational decision-making.

For in-house legal teams, the IFR regime presents a complex matrix of reputational risks that demand proactive management. A regulatory breach is no longer merely a compliance issue—it becomes a PR crisis, a test of stakeholder confidence, and potentially a catalyst for commercial damage.

This three-part article provides English and Welsh clubs with insights into the key reputational flashpoints arising from the IFR framework, and offers practical guidance on navigating these challenges whilst protecting a club's brand, commercial relationships, and community standing:

• Part 1: What the IFR is and foundational compliance issues (below);
• Part 2: Stakeholder issues, enforcement actions, licencing, and what happens when things go wrong (available here);
• Part 3: How to build internal resilience and get ahead of regulatory problems (available here).