TLDR
- British authorities have frozen $13.6 million in a Premier League account using the Proceeds of Crime Act
- The funds represent an initial payment from Sorare’s $163 million sponsorship agreement with the league
- A separate criminal case by the Gambling Commission accuses Sorare of operating without proper licensing
- No allegations have been made against the Premier League, which is attempting to modify the freeze order
- Financial regulators have cautioned football clubs about partnering with unlicensed cryptocurrency companies
British law enforcement has seized $13.6 million from a Premier League bank account connected to Sorare, the cryptocurrency-based fantasy football platform that counts Lionel Messi among its prominent backers.
Westminster magistrates’ court approved the National Crime Agency’s request for the freeze order in January 2025. The agency invoked the Proceeds of Crime Act to restrict access to funds held in The Football Association Premier League Limited’s Barclays account.
According to the agency, the measure aims “to prevent dissipation of the funds while the NCA investigates any potential links between those funds and alleged third-party criminality.”
The Premier League itself faces no allegations of misconduct. Officials from the league refused to provide commentary on the matter, initially reported by British tabloid The Sun.
The seized funds constitute the opening installment of a four-year partnership announced in January 2023. Industry sources estimated the agreement’s value at approximately $41 million annually, amounting to $163 million across the full contract period.
The partnership granted Sorare rights to create digital collectible cards featuring players from all 20 Premier League teams. Individual clubs received compensation tied to the usage frequency of their players’ cards. The agreement was scheduled to conclude following the 2025-26 season.
Sorare Challenges Report
Sorare contested aspects of the Sun’s coverage. A company representative informed Decrypt that the platform is “not under investigation by the UK National Crime Agency.” The spokesperson further clarified that the frozen account is not owned by Sorare.
The company additionally verified that its Premier League partnership concluded naturally upon contract expiration rather than due to any investigative proceedings.
Gambling Prosecution Moves Forward
Sorare is confronting an unrelated legal challenge initiated by the UK Gambling Commission. In September 2024, regulators formally charged the platform with operating gambling services without obtaining the necessary operating licence mandated by the Gambling Act 2005.
This marked the first enforcement action by the Gambling Commission targeting a blockchain-powered service. Sorare submitted three not-guilty pleas during an October 2024 appearance at Birmingham magistrates’ court.
Court proceedings initially scheduled for June 2026 have been rescheduled to June 2027.
Company representatives maintain that Sorare “firmly” rejects classification as a gambling service under British legislation and intends to vigorously contest the charges.
The Financial Conduct Authority has also intervened. In June 2026, the regulator issued written warnings to Premier League clubs regarding sponsorship arrangements with unauthorized cryptocurrency businesses, citing potential violations of financial services regulations and risks to supporters.
The FCA’s director of consumer investments stated that clubs “should not let unauthorised financial firms exploit that loyalty by putting potentially dodgy products in front of millions of fans.”
Established in 2018, Sorare achieved a $4.3 billion valuation following a SoftBank-led investment round in 2021.
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