Football Governance
Licence-ready before the 2026/27 season.
The Football Governance Act 2025 puts every club in the top five tiers under the Independent Football Regulator. We train boards and map governance gaps before the licence application does it for you.
Board workshop
IFR Governance Workshop
A half-day session for boards and senior executives: what the licensing regime requires, where clubs typically fall short, and what your board needs to evidence, delivered by practitioners who work in regulated-industry governance every week.
- The licensing regime, translated into board-level duties
- Financial regulation, ownership and directorship tests
- Fan engagement obligations and how to evidence them
- A prioritised readiness roadmap for your club
The IFR, in plain terms
What is the Independent Football Regulator?
The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) is the statutory regulator for English men’s football created by the Football Governance Act 2025. It operates a licensing regime for clubs in the top five tiers, covering financial regulation, corporate governance and fan engagement.
Which clubs does the licensing regime apply to?
Clubs in the Premier League, EFL Championship, League One, League Two and the National League. Each club will need a licence to compete, and licence conditions include governance and financial-management requirements.
What does a club need to evidence?
Sound financial management, fit-and-proper ownership and directorship, appropriate corporate governance arrangements, and structured fan engagement. Boards need directors who understand these duties, which is a training and capability question, not just a compliance one.
How does Fideo help?
We run governance workshops for club boards and executives, and provide a structured gap analysis mapping your current governance arrangements against the licensing requirements, with a practical development plan for the gaps.
Know where your club stands.
A governance gap analysis maps your current arrangements against licence requirements, with a practical plan for closing the gaps.