TL;DR
- UK authorities froze £10.024 million held in a Premier League account and reportedly linked to its former deal with Sorare.
- The freezing order preserves the money during an investigation but does not establish wrongdoing by the Premier League or Sorare.
- The NCA matter is separate from the Gambling Commission case against Sorare over alleged unlicensed gambling.
The UK’s National Crime Agency froze £10.024 million held in a Premier League bank account, citing possible links between the money and alleged third-party criminality. The funds reportedly came from the league’s former partnership with blockchain fantasy-sports company Sorare.
A freezing order does not establish that a crime took place. It keeps the money in place while the investigation continues. Court records show the order was obtained in January 2025. Authorities have not identified the alleged third-party crime. Reports state that the Premier League is not suspected of wrongdoing.
The order was obtained in January 2025 but only became public this week, when The Sun first reported it on August 31.
What the freezing order covers
Court records show the order applies to £10,024,041.33 held in the name of Football Association Premier League Limited. Westminster Magistrates’ Court granted it under the Proceeds of Crime Act (PCA).
According to The Sun, the money was held in the Premier League management company’s Barclays account. The report linked it to Sorare’s first payment under a four-year commercial agreement announced in 2023. The Premier League is seeking to vary the order, which runs until September 14.
An account-freezing order under the PCA is a civil proceeding. It keeps money in place while investigators look into where it came from, without seizing it or transferring ownership to the government. The order alone doesn’t establish guilt or prove the funds are criminal property.
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How the Sorare partnership worked
Sorare operates a fantasy-sports game built around digital player cards. Users assemble teams, and their results depend on real-world player performances. The service launched in 2018 on Ethereum, a blockchain network, accepting only its native currency, Ether. It began accepting fiat currency in August 2023 and added Solana, another blockchain network, in late 2025.
Its Premier League agreement allowed Sorare to issue digital cards representing players from all 20 clubs. According to The Sun it was a £120 million deal worth £30 million per year.
The partnership, announced in January 2023, has now ended. Sorare told The Sun that the contract expired after the 2025-2026 season and declined to comment on the freezing order itself. The company gave a more pointed response to other outlets. A Sorare spokesperson told Fortune that Sorare is not the subject of a National Crime Agency investigation and said the frozen account does not belong to Sorare. Sorare’s chief executive Nicolas Julia called initial reports of the freeze inaccurate on social media.
A separate gambling case remains unresolved
The NCA matter is separate from a Gambling Commission prosecution, in which the regulator accuses Sorare of offering gambling facilities without a UK operating licence. Sorare disputes the allegation, arguing that its game depends on skill rather than chance. No court has ruled on Sorare’s liability in the separate case.
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Why the disclosure matters beyond football
Crypto companies have used major sports partnerships to reach mainstream users. Those deals can place unfamiliar financial or blockchain products beside brands that fans already trust.
The Financial Conduct Authority warned clubs in June about sponsorships involving unauthorized financial firms. It said such deals may expose supporters to products without normal UK protections. The warning did not accuse Sorare or address the NCA order specifically. Even so, it shows why regulators are scrutinizing the financial relationships behind sports promotions.
