UK crime agency freezes $13.5 million in Premier League funds over Sorare investigation

The UK's National Crime Agency has frozen over 10 million pounds ($13.5 million) in a Premier League bank account. The frozen cash represents the first payment from a terminated $140 million partnership with blockchain fantasy sports platform Sorare. While the Premier League is not suspected of wrongdoing, authorities are investigating potential links between the funds and third-party criminality. Sorare denies being the subject of the probe, though it separately faces a landmark UK Gambling Commission prosecution for allegedly offering unlicensed gambling.

Premier League funds freeze

• ▪The National Crime Agency obtained the freezing order from Westminster Magistrates' Court in January 2025 under the Proceeds of Crime Act
• ▪The National Crime Agency stated the purpose of the freezing order is to prevent dissipation of the funds while investigating potential links to alleged third-party criminality
• ▪Sorare denied being the subject of the National Crime Agency investigation, stating the frozen account does not belong to Sorare and the company is not a party to the proceedings
• ▪The frozen funds are tied to the first payment made by Sorare under its licensing and partnership agreement with the Premier League
• ▪The Premier League, which is not suspected of wrongdoing, is seeking to vary the terms of the freezing order in a court hearing
• ▪The UK's National Crime Agency froze over 10 million pounds ($13.5 million) held in a Barclays bank account belonging to The Football Association Premier League Limited

Sorare licensing deal termination

• ▪The partnership agreement between the Premier League and Sorare was terminated and officially concluded at the end of the 2025-26 football season
• ▪The Premier League and Sorare signed a four-year partnership deal in January 2023, which was reported to be worth up to $163 million (£120 million)

Sorare blockchain gaming platform

• ▪Sorare's prominent brand ambassadors and investors have included soccer stars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Zinedine Zidane, Rio Ferdinand, and tennis champion Serena Williams
• ▪Sorare transitioned from a crypto-only marketplace using Ethereum to adding cash transactions in August 2023, and later integrated Solana payments in late 2025
• ▪Sorare runs a fantasy sports game where users build virtual teams using digital player cards, which was valued at $4.3 billion (£3.21 billion) in a 2021 SoftBank-led funding round

UK crypto sponsorship regulation

• ▪The UK Financial Conduct Authority warned Premier League clubs in June 2026 that partnership deals with unauthorized cryptocurrency firms could breach financial services laws
• ▪A Financial Conduct Authority freedom-of-information release revealed the regulator wrote to 21 clubs and identified 18 sponsorship arrangements involving unauthorized firms

Gambling Commission prosecution

• ▪Sorare pleaded not guilty to the Gambling Commission charges, arguing the fantasy sports game rewards skill rather than chance
• ▪The trial for the Gambling Commission prosecution against Sorare has been scheduled for June 7, 2027, at Birmingham Magistrates' Court
• ▪The UK Gambling Commission charged Sorare in September 2024 with providing unlicensed gambling facilities, marking its first prosecution against a blockchain-based platform

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