British Authorities Freeze $13.5 Million Tied to Premier League and Sorare
The NCA is investigating whether a Sorare sponsorship payment routed through the Premier League is linked to possible criminal money flows. The case adds pressure on crypto sponsorship in British football.
Key Takeaways
- The British National Crime Agency froze more than 10 million pounds in Premier League accounts.
- The seizure is tied to an investigation into a sponsorship payment from Sorare's four-year $140 million contract.
- The Premier League is not suspected; British regulators are meanwhile taking a tougher stance on crypto sponsorship in football.
The British National Crime Agency has frozen more than 10 million pounds, or $13.5 million (€11.6 million), that was sitting in Premier League accounts. The seizure was made under the Proceeds of Crime Act, while investigators look into whether there is a link to possible criminal involvement by third parties around a sponsorship payment from Sorare.
Investigation Into Sponsorship Payment
According to British media, the move is tied to the first payment from the four-year $140 million (€121 million) sponsorship deal the Premier League signed with Sorare in 2023. That contract was ended at the close of last season. The NCA says the freeze is meant to keep the money from disappearing while the investigation continues into possible links between those funds and alleged criminal activity by third parties.
The Premier League itself is not suspected of wrongdoing. Sorare and the Premier League did not respond to requests for comment. The Premier League is trying to change the terms of the freezing order in a hearing on Monday, while the order remains in place until September 14.
More Pressure on Crypto Sponsorship
The case fits into a broader tougher stance by British regulators toward crypto sponsorship in football. The Financial Conduct Authority previously warned Premier League clubs that partnerships with unlicensed crypto companies could run afoul of financial rules.
For European crypto followers, what matters most is that regulators and law enforcement in the UK are increasingly approaching crypto through the lens of fraud, payments, and licensing risks. Sorare has already been in a separate process for some time: the Gambling Commission charged the company in September 2024 with offering unlicensed gambling facilities. Sorare denies any wrongdoing in both cases.
Sorare Under Scrutiny
Sorare runs a fantasy sports game with digital player cards that let users build virtual teams. The platform started as a crypto-only marketplace with ETH and SOL, but from August 2023 it also allowed payments in cash. The mix of sports, digital cards, and crypto has long made the company a notable player in a sector where regulators are taking a closer look at licenses and money flows. In the UK, that tougher line is also visible in the FCA and Bank of England's new crypto rules, which raise the bar further for providers.
