England’s Football Regulator: Promise, power and reform
Since the Football Governance Act 2025 received Royal Assent in July, English football has entered a period of unprecedented transformation. The creation of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has shifted from legislative ambition to operational reality, bringing significant implications for clubs, owners, and supporters across the top five tiers of the men’s game.
The IFR is now fully established, with David Kogan OBE confirmed as its inaugural Chair for a five-year term. His appointment, alongside non-executive directors Dame Helen Stephenson and Simon Levine, signals a clear intent to blend regulatory, legal, and governance expertise.
The IFR’s leadership team is tasked with navigating the complex landscape of English football, balancing commercial interests with the need for greater accountability and sustainability. Since taking office, the IFR has launched a series of consultations on key policy areas, including the new licensing regime, the enhanced Owners, Directors and Senior Executives (ODSE) test, and enforcement mechanisms. These consultations are designed to ensure that the regulatory framework is robust, transparent, and responsive to the needs of the game’s diverse stakeholders.
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Subscribe nowA notable early milestone was Kogan’s meeting with representatives from 110 clubs, as well as officials from the Premier League, English Football League, and Football Association, in Manchester. This summit marked the regulator’s first major engagement with the football community, focusing on urgent issues such as financial stability, club licensing, and the IFR’s remit.
Kogan has also met with supporter groups, including those associated with clubs facing acute financial challenges, such as Sheffield Wednesday. These discussions have centred on the IFR’s potential powers to intervene in cases of mismanagement, and on the broader goal of restoring trust between clubs and their communities. The regulator’s approach to fan engagement – enshrined in the Act – requires clubs to consult supporters on key heritage issues, including changes to stadiums, crests, and kit colours, ensuring that fans have a meaningful voice in the future of their clubs.
As the IFR beds in, clubs must adapt to a new era of accountability, transparency, and fan empowerment.
The regulator’s first annual “State of the Game” report, expected in early 2026, will provide a comprehensive assessment of financial health, governance, and supporter engagement across English football.
The Football Governance Act 2025 has ushered in the most significant overhaul of football governance in a generation, and the eyes of the football world will be observing closely as the new watchdog gets to work. The coming months will be a crucial test of whether the IFR can deliver on its promise to reform the game – or whether the old problems of English football will persist under a new regime.
