National Crime Agency freezes £10 million linked to Premier League crypto partnership
The U.K. National Crime Agency has placed a £10 million freeze on a bank account tied to the Premier League amid a probe involving crypto fantasy platform Sorare.
The National Crime Agency in the United Kingdom has frozen roughly £10 million in a bank account associated with the Premier League as part of a criminal inquiry that includes crypto gaming platform Sorare. The agency has not disclosed the specific wrongdoing it is probing, only that it concerns possible links between Sorare’s payments under its licensing agreement with the league and alleged illicit activity by third parties.
Sorare’s spokesperson asserted the company is not the target of the investigation and that the frozen funds belong to an unrelated account, a claim echoed by CEO Nicolas Julia on social media. The Premier League declined to comment on the matter. The action arrives months after the Financial Conduct Authority cautioned clubs against partnering with crypto entities lacking proper authorization, emphasizing consumer protection for fans. Sorare, founded in Paris in 2018, previously secured a $140 million, four-year partnership with the league, featuring ambassadors such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Serena Williams, and now faces a separate gambling-license case pending trial.
Why it matters
A major football league’s financial ties to a crypto firm are under criminal scrutiny, highlighting regulatory risks for sports sponsorships.
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