Premier League Funds Hit by £10 Million Freeze in NCA Investigation

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has frozen more than £10 million held within a Premier League bank account as part of an investigation into potential links between the funds and alleged third-party criminality.

The enforcement action, which stems from an account-freezing order granted in January 2025, involves a Barclays account held in the name of Football Association Premier League Ltd. While the details have only recently surfaced, the move has cast a spotlight on the Premier League’s commercial partnership with the crypto-based fantasy sports platform, Sorare.

The frozen sum is reportedly the initial payment issued by the French-based company under a four-year digital-player-card licensing agreement signed in 2023. The deal, which allows Sorare to feature players from all 20 top-flight clubs, has been estimated to be worth approximately £120 million over its duration.

It is important to note that the Premier League is not accused of any wrongdoing. The league has reportedly engaged legal counsel to apply to Westminster Magistrates’ Court to vary the terms of the order, which was obtained under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Neither the NCA nor the football body has provided clarity on why the existence of the order remained undisclosed for several months.

A Complex Legal Backdrop

The freeze arrives as Sorare faces separate, high-profile legal challenges. The UK Gambling Commission is currently pursuing a prosecution against the company, alleging that it provided gambling facilities to British consumers without the required operating licence. Sorare has maintained a firm stance that its platform is a game of skill rather than gambling, and a trial for this case is currently scheduled for June 2027.

Legal experts emphasize that an account-freezing order is a civil-recovery mechanism rather than a criminal conviction. Nick Brett, a partner at law firm Brett Wilson, noted that such orders do not require proof of criminal wrongdoing by the account holder. “Account freezing orders are made by magistrates on application… the proceedings are civil rather than criminal in nature,” Brett explained. He cautioned that the order might be linked to the ongoing Gambling Commission case, or it could stem from an entirely independent origin related to the funds’ history.

Heightened Regulatory Vigilance

The situation serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with high-value partnerships between sports organizations and firms operating in the volatile intersection of digital assets and gambling.

Chris Roberts, partner and head of white-collar crime at Grosvenor Law, told ICLG News that the intervention highlights the proactive nature of authorities when dealing with modern digital sectors. “The greater the amount of money involved, the more likely it will be that the authorities will try to use all the tools at their disposal, such as an asset freezing order, to ensure recovery in the event the underlying prosecution is successful,” Roberts said.

As the Premier League’s £10m frozen in Sorare inquiry continues to unfold, the case underscores the growing importance of rigorous due diligence for governing bodies. Even for organizations not accused of unlawful conduct, the financial activities of commercial partners can quickly draw sports entities into complex,, high-stakes investigations that threaten both reputation and revenue.