Second Licensing Regime Consultation

Who we are

We are the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), as established by the Football Governance Act 2025 (the Act). The Act received Royal Assent on 21 July 2025 and the IFR was legally established on 1 November 2025. 

The IFR’s core statutory objectives are to: 

  • protect and promote the financial soundness of regulated clubs 

  • protect and promote financial resilience of English football 

  • safeguard the heritage of English football

In line with this, the IFR will operate a licensing regime for clubs in the top five tiers of English men’s football. Clubs will need a licence to operate, and must meet requirements on finances, fan engagement, governance and their overall resources.

What we consulted on 

In October 2025, the IFR launched its first licensing consultation on the design and operation of the licensing regime, including how the IFR will carry out some of its key responsibilities.

In March 2026, following feedback from that initial consultation, the IFR launched a second licensing consultation to seek views on the details of the licensing framework.

Informed by the responses received, the IFR has now published the final versions of the licensing framework on its website. This includes:

  • An example Licence with attached Mandatory Licence Conditions in Annex A of the Licensing Guidance

The IFR has also published a response document, which can be found in the Documents section of this page. This provides a summary of the feedback received during the second consultation and sets out the IFR’s response to that feedback. Annex A summarises all the changes made to the licensing framework.

Marked-up versions of the licensing documents, which show the changes between the version consulted on in March and the final version published in July, can also be found in the Documents section of this page.

Accessibility

If you have accessibility requirements relating to our consultation documentation, please get in touch via the Accessibility Requirements page.

Next Steps

The IFR published its consultation response and final Licensing Rules and Guidance on Wednesday 1 July 2026.

The provisional licence application window will open on 2 November 2026 and will run to 26 February 2027.

The IFR is running a pilot scheme for provisional licensing for a selection of clubs in the top five tiers. The IFR will share lessons learned from the pilot scheme with all regulated clubs ahead of the provisional licence application window.

The IFR will consult on a financial plan template in autumn 2026.

Compliance with government consultation principles 

In preparing this consultation, the IFR has taken into account the published government consultation principles, which set out how government departments and other public bodies should consult with stakeholders. 

Confidentiality

We do not intend to publish any individual responses. Information contained in responses may be used or summarised in public documents.

Personal Data

We accept respondents’ right to remain anonymous, and responses that are confidential should be clearly marked. We may contact an individual to discuss their request for confidentiality further and ask for reasons. 

We are subject to the rules set out in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Data Protection Act (DPA) and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR).

Section 1 of FOIA gives a general right of access to information held by public authorities, and the Act adds the IFR to the list of ‘public bodies’ that fall within the remit of FOIA.

The EIR requires public authorities to make environmental information available on request.

EIR (reg. 2(2)) defines ‘public authority’ by direct reference to FOIA. Personal data collected as part of the consultation process will fall within the remit of the DPA.

Section 7(1)(a) defines ’public authority’ by direct reference to FOIA. While we may publish data about the number of responses received, we will not disclose the personal information of respondents during this process.


Who we are

We are the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), as established by the Football Governance Act 2025 (the Act). The Act received Royal Assent on 21 July 2025 and the IFR was legally established on 1 November 2025. 

The IFR’s core statutory objectives are to: 

  • protect and promote the financial soundness of regulated clubs 

  • protect and promote financial resilience of English football 

  • safeguard the heritage of English football

In line with this, the IFR will operate a licensing regime for clubs in the top five tiers of English men’s football. Clubs will need a licence to operate, and must meet requirements on finances, fan engagement, governance and their overall resources.

What we consulted on 

In October 2025, the IFR launched its first licensing consultation on the design and operation of the licensing regime, including how the IFR will carry out some of its key responsibilities.

In March 2026, following feedback from that initial consultation, the IFR launched a second licensing consultation to seek views on the details of the licensing framework.

Informed by the responses received, the IFR has now published the final versions of the licensing framework on its website. This includes:

  • An example Licence with attached Mandatory Licence Conditions in Annex A of the Licensing Guidance

The IFR has also published a response document, which can be found in the Documents section of this page. This provides a summary of the feedback received during the second consultation and sets out the IFR’s response to that feedback. Annex A summarises all the changes made to the licensing framework.

Marked-up versions of the licensing documents, which show the changes between the version consulted on in March and the final version published in July, can also be found in the Documents section of this page.

Accessibility

If you have accessibility requirements relating to our consultation documentation, please get in touch via the Accessibility Requirements page.

Next Steps

The IFR published its consultation response and final Licensing Rules and Guidance on Wednesday 1 July 2026.

The provisional licence application window will open on 2 November 2026 and will run to 26 February 2027.

The IFR is running a pilot scheme for provisional licensing for a selection of clubs in the top five tiers. The IFR will share lessons learned from the pilot scheme with all regulated clubs ahead of the provisional licence application window.

The IFR will consult on a financial plan template in autumn 2026.

Compliance with government consultation principles 

In preparing this consultation, the IFR has taken into account the published government consultation principles, which set out how government departments and other public bodies should consult with stakeholders. 

Confidentiality

We do not intend to publish any individual responses. Information contained in responses may be used or summarised in public documents.

Personal Data

We accept respondents’ right to remain anonymous, and responses that are confidential should be clearly marked. We may contact an individual to discuss their request for confidentiality further and ask for reasons. 

We are subject to the rules set out in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Data Protection Act (DPA) and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR).

Section 1 of FOIA gives a general right of access to information held by public authorities, and the Act adds the IFR to the list of ‘public bodies’ that fall within the remit of FOIA.

The EIR requires public authorities to make environmental information available on request.

EIR (reg. 2(2)) defines ‘public authority’ by direct reference to FOIA. Personal data collected as part of the consultation process will fall within the remit of the DPA.

Section 7(1)(a) defines ’public authority’ by direct reference to FOIA. While we may publish data about the number of responses received, we will not disclose the personal information of respondents during this process.


  • CLOSED: This consultation has concluded, thank you for participating.

    Licensing Regime Consultation Questions

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Page last updated: 30 Jun 2026, 07:08 PM