Britain's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on June 3 issued a warning to Premier League clubs over sponsorship deals with unauthorised cryptocurrency firms and trading platforms that may violate UK financial promotion rules and expose clubs to legal liability, money laundering risks, and reputational damage [1, 2, 3].
The FCA highlighted that some unauthorised crypto firms use high-profile football sponsorships to target fans despite not being authorised to operate in the UK [1, 2, 3]. It warned fans who use these unregulated crypto providers risk losing all their money and are unlikely to have any regulatory protections [1, 2, 3].
Lucy Castledine, FCA director of consumer investments, said, "Millions of football fans trust their club's badge. Clubs should not let unauthorised financial firms exploit that loyalty by putting potentially dodgy products in front of millions of fans" [1].
The regulator has written to Premier League clubs and other stakeholders urging them to increase due diligence checks on current and future sponsorship deals [1, 2, 3]. It has already contacted clubs where concerns were identified and signaled it would take enforcement action if necessary [1, 2, 3].
Sponsorship and commercial deals have overtaken broadcast revenues as the dominant source of income for Premier League clubs [1, 2, 3]. Manchester City generated €408 million ($475 million) in sponsorship revenue in 2025, surpassing its €332 million broadcast earnings, according to Deloitte figures [1, 2, 3].
Sports minister Stephanie Peacock acknowledged that sponsorship income is vital for football but added, "Fans deserve to know that the companies associated with their clubs are responsible, accountable and safe to use" [1].
The FCA’s action signals intensified regulatory scrutiny ahead for Premier League clubs reliant on crypto sponsorship money. Clubs are expected to review all crypto-related commercial partnerships carefully to ensure compliance and protect fans from unregulated financial entities [1, 2, 3].
