Key facts
- Over £10 million in Premier League accounts will remain frozen.
- The funds are frozen as part of an international investigation into Sorare.com.
- Sorare.com was the Premier League's former digital fantasy football partner.
- The National Crime Agency (NCA) secured the initial court order in January 2023.
- A judge granted a four-month extension on Friday to continue the freeze.
- The judge stated the funds are suspected to be the fruits of criminal conduct.
More than £10 million in Premier League accounts will remain frozen as international law enforcement investigates its former digital fantasy football partner, Sorare.com. The National Crime Agency (NCA) secured a court order to freeze £10,024,041.33 held by the league in January 2023, and a judge granted a four-month extension on Friday.
District Judge Sam Goozee stated that the freezing of accounts is necessary and proportionate to prevent the dissipation of funds suspected to be the fruits of criminal conduct and to enable a proper investigation by the authorities. He found no suggestion that the Premier League itself engaged in unlawful conduct, noting that the league expected Sorare to act lawfully.
The Premier League was aware in October 2021 that the Gambling Commission was scrutinizing Sorare regarding whether its services constituted gambling. Sorare provided the league with a summary of its legal advice, which concluded that its contests were not a form of gambling, though the judge noted this advice was self-serving.
In January 2023, the Premier League agreed to a £120 million four-year contract with Sorare. Around 18 months later, Sorare informed the league it faced three Gambling Commission charges for operating unlicensed gambling facilities, with a trial set for June 2027. The judge noted that Sorare's activities in Great Britain have continued since the charges were filed, and the Premier League continued to receive funds until June 2025.