May, 2026
Sport has evolved.
Cross-border ownership is now common. Investment structures are more layered. Capital moves quickly between jurisdictions and regulators are paying closer attention to where money comes from, who controls assets and how governance decisions are made.
Agents, investors, sponsors, intermediaries and associated businesses are increasingly exposed to:
The result is simple: assumptions are no longer enough.
Verification matters. And when judgements involve reputation, investment or long-term control, independent due diligence becomes essential.
Regulation creates obligations. Due diligence helps organisations meet them properly. We support clubs, ownership groups and stakeholders by identifying:
Because governance failures rarely appear without warning.
The signs are usually there. You just need to know where to look.
Not every law affecting the industry was written specifically for sport.
But many of the most important due diligence standards now shaping sport regulation originate from wider corporate, financial crime and transparency legislation.
Understanding those frameworks matters.
They increasingly influence how regulators assess ownership, funding and governance across sport.
The Companies Act 2006 introduced the Persons with Significant Control (PSC) register – designed to improve transparency around who ultimately owns or controls companies.
The principle now sits at the centre of modern regulation.
Ownership structures in sport are rarely straightforward. Clubs can involve layered corporate entities, offshore structures and cross-border investment vehicles.
The ability to identify true beneficial ownership is now fundamental to effective due diligence.
Find out more:
The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 introduced stronger disclosure requirements around overseas entities owning UK assets.
The legislation seeks to uncover ultimate beneficial owners and improve visibility around international corporate structures.
That matters in sport where cross-border investment and overseas ownership are now commonplace.
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and Money Laundering Regulations 2017 underpin many of the source-of-funds and financial crime checks now expected in modern sport.
These frameworks shape how organisations assess:
The principles increasingly align with the expectations developing under the Independent Football Regulator.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate sport directly. But its fit-and-proper person framework has become an important reference point for modern ownership and governance standards in sport.
The model focuses on:
Sport regulation is becoming more aligned with wider corporate and financial governance expectations.
Across football and wider sport, governing bodies are placing greater emphasis on ownership suitability.
In England, the Premier League Owners’ and Directors’ Test examines issues including:
Other leagues and governing bodies operate similar frameworks.
At the same time, the proposed Independent Football Regulator (IFR) CP1/25 Owners, Directors and Senior Executives requirements would tighten scrutiny of senior figures in football, introducing stronger expectations around suitability, integrity and governance.
And scrutiny is increasing.
Ownership decisions now carry reputational, political and regulatory consequences far beyond the club itself.
Multi-club ownership models are now the norm across global sport. Individuals and entities control multiple teams within the same competition ecosystem and abuse of the system is rife.
To fight back, governing bodies are strengthening rules with heightened regulatory focus on control, influence and competitive integrity.
Key areas of scrutiny include:
Regulators are also focused on beneficial ownership transparency and the true source of control behind complex corporate structures.
Sport is not isolated from wider financial crime concerns.
Large transaction values, international movement of funds and complex ownership models have increased scrutiny around:
This applies across:
Global regulators continue to strengthen expectations around transparency and financial controls.
Corporate transparency requirements are evolving quickly.
In the UK, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act introduced stronger powers around:
The direction is consistent with broader international trends: regulators want greater visibility over ownership, control and financial activity.
Football is now operating under far greater regulatory scrutiny.
FIFA’s Football Agent Regulations introduced:
A Sports Due Diligence report verifies whether agents are properly regulated, hold current FIFA licensing, and are in good standing with the FA. This includes checks to confirm they are not struck off, suspended, or otherwise restricted from operating.
The direction of travel is clear. Football is moving towards stronger governance, greater transparency and closer oversight.
UEFA’s financial sustainability framework now sits at the centre of compliance in European football.
Oversight is tighter. Reporting standards are higher. Financial decision making is under greater scrutiny than ever.
The regulations cover:
Clubs competing in UEFA competitions must demonstrate compliance across sporting, legal, financial and operational criteria.
This is no longer just financial administration. It is regulatory accountability at club level.
The Football Governance Act 2025 represents one of the most significant regulatory shifts English football has seen in decades.
At the centre of the legislation is the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) – a body created to oversee financial sustainability, governance standards and ownership suitability across the professional game.
The legislation introduces greater oversight around:
The Act also strengthens expectations around who can own or control football clubs – and where funding originates.
This is no longer a simple fit-and-proper test.
Modern football regulation increasingly mirrors the standards seen across financial services, corporate governance and anti-money laundering frameworks.
Governance in sport is evolving quickly. Regulation is tightening, oversight is increasing and expectations continue to rise across every level of the game.
For organisations seeking deeper insight into compliance, integrity and regulatory frameworks in sport, the following resources provide a useful starting point.
