The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued a formal warning to football clubs over sponsorship arrangements with financial firms that lack proper regulatory authorization just weeks after a request from Entain Plc (LSE: ENT), according to GamblingNews.uk.
The regulator published a notice on its website on June 3, 2026, flagging that certain crypto companies and trading platforms are using sports partnerships to circumvent official approval processes.
The FCA has written directly to clubs, predominantly those in the Premier League, after detecting a rise in such commercial arrangements.
According to the FCA, some sponsors may be providing regulated financial services without authorization or making unlawful financial promotions, both of which are criminal offenses under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
Clubs that accept money from these businesses expose themselves to legal, operational, and reputational risks that could have serious long-term consequences.
The regulator also warned that sponsorship income derived from such firms could constitute criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
The FCA’s letter raises the bar for commercial due diligence, requiring clubs to verify a sponsor’s regulatory status and assess whether its products involve regulated activity before any agreement is signed.
Clubs are also expected to examine controls designed to block British consumers from accessing those services, including geo-fencing measures, disclaimers, onboarding checks, and ongoing monitoring systems.
The FCA has instructed clubs to consult its Firm Checker and Warning List tools, and to continue monitoring sponsors throughout the duration of each sponsorship deal.
The regulator made clear that a firm’s absence from the Warning List does not confirm it is operating lawfully, and advised clubs to seek specialist legal advice wherever uncertainty exists.
The FCA’s warning extends to clubs’ own marketing activity, noting that promotional content relating to a sponsor’s products could itself breach financial promotion rules.
The regulator confirmed it is actively monitoring arrangements that may facilitate unlawful activity or increase consumer harm, while engaging with the government, the Premier League, and the Independent Football Regulator.
The FCA warning arrives less than four weeks after Entain (LSE: ENT), the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, separately urged the football regulator to prevent English clubs from accepting sponsorship from unlicensed gambling operators.
Entain’s submission, made on May 7, 2026, alleged that six Premier League clubs were sponsored by operators accepting bets from British consumers without a valid license, constituting an offense under the Gambling Act 2005.
Entain cited research estimating that 1.5 million Britons stake £4.3 billion annually with unlicensed gambling sites, which it said account for 9% of the UK gambling market.
The company proposed director attestations, stronger governance duties, and sport-wide due diligence guidance, and separately urged Premier League chief executive Richard Masters to introduce a voluntary ban before the 2026/27 season.
