English football 'dangerously exposed' to financial risk, regulator finds
The regulator said clubs need stronger cost controls and contingency plans as debt, wages and transfer financing strain the game.
- On Tuesday, the Independent Football Regulator published its draft "State of the Game" report, finding that 94 per cent of clubs in England's top five divisions lost money last season despite generating £9 billion in revenue.
- The regulator warned of a "dangerous cocktail of rising debt and an over-reliance on owner funding," leaving clubs operating on financial "cliff edges" while pursuing an unsustainable spending model.
- Data revealed 32 clubs operate on only 30 days' cash while 17 clubs would be loss-making even if players played for free, as reliance on "transfer financing" reached £779 million last season.
- The IFR called for "urgent reform" to protect clubs' financial sustainability, while the Premier League and English Football League continue discussions on a new financial settlement despite ongoing negotiations.
- By 2030, clubs must meet "Appropriate Financial Resources" requirements under IFR licensing rules, though CEO Richard Monks warned regulators must anticipate "creative compliance" as teams push financial boundaries.
78 Articles
78 Articles
The bubble bursts: English football on the brink of financial disaster, with 94% of its clubs drowning in losses
It is no longer merely a passing warning, but an alarm bell ringing loudly across England's pitches. While the Premier League shines as the richest competition in the world, a shocking official report reveals that the entire body of English football is "on the brink of financial collapse", in a crisis that threatens to wipe long-established clubs off the map.
A report by the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) confirms the borderline situation of 109 English clubs.
94% of clubs have losses and one third of those in the EFL and the National League are insolvent
State of the Game: 94% of English football run on losses amid sustainability concerns
The Independent Football Regulator’s (IFR) first report on the state of English football has highlighted increasing losses, reliance on ownership funding and how to fix these issues English football is standing on the edge of financial disaster as 94% of clubs are operating on losses creating unsustainability across the country’s football pyramid. The Independent Football […]
In the Premier League , the league championship that sets the pace for the rest of the continent and the world in economic terms, is not gold all that shines. In front of the billionaire signings and stratospheric salaries that are signed each year on the islands underlies a dangerous situation for English football . This was recently made clear by a report of the Independent Football Regulatory Agency (IFR), which warns that it must “act before…
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