TLDR
- UK football clubs face closer FCA scrutiny over crypto sponsors not authorized to operate locally.
- The regulator says unauthorized financial firms may misuse club brands to reach loyal fans.
- Premier League teams have been urged to review sponsor checks and financial crime controls.
- Fans using unregulated platforms may lose money without access to standard UK protections.
- Sponsorship income remains central to club finances as commercial revenue grows across football.
Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority has warned football clubs, including teams in the Premier League, that sponsorship agreements with unauthorized crypto firms and trading platforms may expose them to legal liability, money laundering risks and reputational harm.
The regulator said some firms appear to be using football partnerships to promote financial services to UK fans despite lacking permission to operate in the country. The warning forms part of a wider focus on financial promotions linked to digital assets and high-risk trading products.
FCA Raises Concerns Over Club Partnerships
The FCA said it had written to Premier League clubs and other football organizations after identifying concerns about sponsorship deals involving unauthorized financial firms. The watchdog said clubs should carry out stronger checks on companies that pay for branding, shirt placements or other commercial partnerships. It also said firms without UK authorization may breach financial promotion rules when they use football audiences to market products.
Lucy Castledine, the FCA’s director of consumer investments, said football supporters often place trust in their clubs’ names and badges. She said clubs should not allow that loyalty to be used to place risky or potentially unsuitable financial products before large fan bases. The FCA added that it would act where intervention is needed.
UK FCA: Football Clubs Face Legal and Money Laundering Risks From Unauthorized Crypto Sponsors
Reuters reported that the UK Financial Conduct Authority warned Premier League and other football clubs that sponsorship deals with unauthorized crypto firms and trading platforms… pic.twitter.com/3AmIjUvlvx
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) June 3, 2026
The regulator said supporters who use unregulated firms may face a full loss of funds. It also said such customers are unlikely to have access to UK regulatory protections, including standard complaint and compensation routes. The warning places responsibility on clubs to assess whether sponsors are permitted to target British consumers.
Premier League Deals Draw Regulatory Attention
The FCA did not publicly identify every club or agreement under review. However, football sponsorships involving crypto exchanges and online trading firms have grown across the top tier of English football. These partnerships give companies exposure through shirts, stadium advertising, digital content and global broadcasts.
Chelsea has extended a sponsorship agreement with crypto exchange BingX, while Manchester City has a shirtsleeve sponsorship arrangement with OKX. Financial Times reporting said neither BingX nor OKX appears on the FCA register of authorized firms. Newcastle United has also been linked with VT Markets, a trading company that has appeared on the FCA’s warning list of unauthorized firms.
The regulator’s letter said money received from an unauthorized firm may be treated as criminal property in some circumstances. Clubs were told to understand the source of sponsorship funds and review whether arrangements could create financial crime risks. The FCA said such deals may also damage public trust when fans associate club approval with financial safety.
Sponsorship Revenue Remains Central to Football
Commercial income has become a major funding source for leading football clubs. Deloitte figures cited in the reports showed Manchester City generated €408 million in commercial revenue in 2025, above its €332 million broadcast income. Sponsorships therefore remain an important part of club budgets, player recruitment and wider operations.
Sports minister Stephanie Peacock said sponsorship revenue was important for the industry, while also saying fans should know that companies linked to their clubs are responsible, accountable and safe to use. The government has already examined sports sponsorship rules in other sectors. Premier League clubs have agreed that gambling brands will no longer appear on the front of shirts from the 2026-27 season.
The FCA’s warning signals that crypto and trading sponsorships may face similar attention when firms lack UK authorization. Clubs have been urged to review due diligence, financial crime checks and fan-facing promotions connected to commercial partners. The regulator said it had contacted clubs where concerns had been identified and would take further steps where required.
