The recent plateaus in professional sports leagues’ revenues and the zero-risk nature of crypto revenue for clubs has incentivised partnerships between professional sport and crypto companies. However, the unique relationship between clubs and fans means that fan speculation on sport-based cryptoassets carries a real risk of financial harm to fans and reputational harm to clubs. We are also concerned that clubs may present fan tokens as an appropriate form of fan engagement in the future, des...

The recent plateaus in professional sports leagues’ revenues and the zero-risk nature of crypto revenue for clubs has incentivised partnerships between professional sport and crypto companies. However, the unique relationship between clubs and fans means that fan speculation on sport-based cryptoassets carries a real risk of financial harm to fans and reputational harm to clubs. We are also concerned that clubs may present fan tokens as an appropriate form of fan engagement in the future, despite their price volatility and reservations among fan groups. We recommend that any measurement of fan engagement in sports, including in the forthcomin Type: recommendation | Number: 3 | Response status: accepted Government response: As announced in the King’s Speech, the Government will bring forward legislation to introduce a new Independent Football Regulator. In recognition of the crucial role that fans play, the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) will require all licensed clubs to consul