The Centre for Sports Business partnered with Lane Clark & Peacock LLP and hosts Fideo Global for the ‘Navigating the Regulator – IFR Governance Workshop’ event on 23 April.
The workshop, moderated by an expert panel, took place at the Brett Building and explored real-world governance experiences from the football industry and their regulatory implications under the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) framework.
Aimed at senior decision makers from a number of professional football clubs in attendance, the workshop also introduced Fideo’s IFR-focused Governance Training Programme, designed to support clubs in understanding and implementing effective governance frameworks aligned with regulatory expectations.
The Centre for Sports Business’s role in the event was to provide academic expertise around the football industry from its Football Industries MBA (FIMBA) programme, specifically research-informed governance insight, sector-specific academic credibility, and executive learning integration.
“The IFR is currently the biggest off-pitch discussion in the football industry,” said Chris Barlow, Director of Studies for FIMBA, who thanked everyone involved for pulling together the workshop.
“The Centre’s workshop delivered alongside our partners at Fideo allowed industry officials and FIMBA staff, students and alumni to discuss the challenges faced in implementing the regulations at all levels of the English football pyramid.
“A key theme identified that it isn’t just about box ticking, but about reducing risk through good governance.”
The IFR was created as a result of the Football Governance Act receiving Royal Assent in July 2025. Its aim is for all clubs to be licensed in time for the 2027/28 season.