Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, a) over what time period does she expect the Football Regulator to repay its £45m initial costs covered by Government, and b) if she will provide the breakdown of how much she expects each league to pay towards these costs.

The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) will lay its first Annual Reports and Accounts before Parliament later this year. In its first year, the IFR has already published its comprehensive State of the Game report; begun testing owners, directors and senior executives; protected club heritage by ensuring fans are consulted on key decisions; and issued ten consultations alongside final rules and guidance.

Under the Football Governance Act 2025, the IFR must determine, through its levy rules, the number of chargeable periods over which initial and establishment costs are recovered, and the maximum percentage recoverable each period. The latest proposals, which set out how the IFR intends to repay their initial costs over a ten year period, are currently under consultation. A final breakdown will be published following the consultation, which will include the proportion of the total costs payable by each of the 116 clubs.