# Financial instability and regulatory response in English足球 > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/financial-instability-in-english-professional-football > Updated: 2026-10-22T20:27:34.000Z. Sources: 38. Developments: 3. The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has issued a ‘State of the Game’ report detailing a severe financial crisis within English professional football. While the industry reached record revenues of approximately £9 billion in the 2025/26 season, the report highlights deep structural instability. Approximately 94% of the 160 regulated clubs in the top five divisions recorded losses during the last season. The findings emphasize a dangerous reliance on owner funding, noting that 66% of clubs could not survive more than 90 days without fresh capital, and 32 institutions would be unable to operate beyond 30 days without direct assistance. Total debt in the British system is projected to exceed £5 billion. In the Premier League, average losses per club reportedly rose from £20 million to £44 million between the 2021/22 and 2025/26 seasons. Financial disparities are widening, with the average Premier League club earning more than eight times the revenue of a typical Championship side. In the lower tiers, over 60% of clubs in the EFL and National League are considered technically insolvent. In response to the crisis, Spanish football officials have suggested the LALIGA economic control model, which uses individualized spending limits, as a potential alternative to the current English system. To fund its operations, which are estimated at £20.3 million annually, the IFR has proposed a tiered levy structure. Under this plan, Premier League clubs participating in UEFA competitions and earning over £150 million in commercial revenue could pay approximately £1.8 million annually. CEO Richard Monks described the proposal as a ‘fair and balanced approach,’ noting that most top-flight clubs would contribute around £600,000, or roughly 0.1 per cent of their annual revenues. Contributions would scale down through the pyramid, with Championship clubs paying around £45,000, while League One and League Two sides would contribute £9,000 and £6,000 respectively. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-22: Premier League clubs face new levy for Independent Football Regulator The Independent Football Regulator has proposed a £20.3m annual levy, with top Premier League clubs potentially paying £1.8m each to fund the watchdog. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/independent-football-regulator-proposes-annual-levy-on-premier-league-clubs ### 2026-10-15: English football faces crisis as 94% of clubs report deficits The Independent Football Regulator reports that 94% of English football clubs are in deficit, with total system debt projected to exceed £5 billion, prompting calls for urgent financial reforms. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/english-football-faces-crisis-as-94-of-clubs-report-deficits ### 2026-10-13: English football faces financial crisis as IFR warns of widespread insolvency An IFR report warns of a financial crisis in English football, revealing that 94% of clubs in the top five divisions are loss-making and many rely heavily on owner funding to survive. 30 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/independent-football-regulator-warns-of-financial-risk-for-english-clubs --- Cite as: Financial instability and regulatory response in English足球. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/financial-instability-in-english-professional-football