Independent Football Regulator (IFR)
Also called
The IFR is a licensing regulator, not a league. Every club in the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two and National League needs its licence to compete from 2027/28, and applications for a provisional licence run from 2 November 2026 to 26 February 2027.
It does not replace the leagues' spending rules. The Squad Cost Ratio, SCMP and the points deductions that enforce them stay with the Premier League and the EFL. The IFR's own sanctions are censure, fines of up to 10% of turnover, and suspending or revoking a licence.
Its focus is whether a club is sustainable overall: a financial plan, good governance, suitable owners and directors, and a standing way of consulting fans. It can attach a condition restricting one club's overall spending, but it sets no league-wide cap.