The AML Analyst

May 8th, 2026

In 2024, the EU approved a new regulatory package that brought European football into the AML rules, under the supervision of AMLA (Anti-Money Laundering Authority). The new rules bring professional clubs and football agents in the EU under AML obligations from July 2029, indicating a massive shift in how business is conducted in the football world. Football’s global popularity, significant sums that are involved, cross-border transactions, and opaque ownership structures make the sector an attractive avenue to launder illicit funds. 

While the AML regulation for football clubs in the EU isn’t particularly new, with both Belgium and Italy having brought AML requirements surrounding the sector, AMLA aims to unify all EU member states under the regulation. In an interview with Italian football and finance outlet Calcio e Finanza on 27th April 2026, AMLA Chair Bruna Szego explains that under the AML regulations, the football sector will now be expected to apply customer due diligence and transaction monitoring frameworks for football’s ownership structures, player transfer market, and sponsor agreements. 

There are exemptions available if it can be proven that activities are low-risk, namely if clubs are in the division below the highest division for the nation (i.e., the Championship in England, although England is not under the scope) and if clubs in the highest division have a total annual turnover of less than EUR 5 million. While these exemptions exist, they are subject to the risk-based approach, which may deny exemption if lower-division clubs exhibit a high risk of money laundering. Take, for example, Championship club Wrexham, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who have now gained global presence and even have a show on Disney+. The global presence and sponsorship that Wrexham attracts, regardless of the division they are playing in, highlights how AMLA is embedding the risk-based approach into their regulation. Ensuring the RBA is embedded into the regulation means AMLA takes into account commercial profile and global reach instead of setting strict standards for their exemptions.

The issue that arises from the new regulations is that AMLA will not have direct supervision of the football sector, continuing to produce the fragmented landscape that AMLA is aiming to avoid. AMLA’s role will be to develop the framework and then support and evaluate the supervision that is performed by national regulators. The football industry, as well as national authorities, will have to adapt to the new regulations, which may cause friction and different interpretations on how to best meet AMLA’s framework. Chair Szego also highlights in her interview that the football industry may not fully understand the regulations and the requirement to be ready by 2029. 

Moreover, smaller clubs may struggle to fund effective systems that enable them to prevent money laundering. While they may be exempt, risks change, and there is no clear guidance on whether they need to invest right now in systems, or only when they become high-risk and are no longer exempt from these rules. Factoring this in, national authorities may struggle to properly assess the systems in place for clubs, leading to further fragmentation of AMLA standards across EU member states.

Is AMLA’s indirect supervision model strong enough to deliver consistent outcomes across EU member states, or will the 2029 deadline arrive before the football industry is ready?

Sources:Interview with Chair: https://www.amla.europa.eu/news-media/news-articles/aml-football-sector-interview-amla-chair-bruna-szego_en