A new competition can be approved only through a published process. The board may deem it an approved competition after an application, consultation with all clubs and the public, a chance to reply, and a provisional written decision with reasons.
Why the process exists
The process is built to protect a small set of core values that cannot be stripped out of an approved competition. Those include sporting merit, equal opportunity, a match calendar that is not overburdened, and proper consideration of player welfare.
That makes the exercise wider than a simple yes-or-no check on a proposal. The board is asked to look at how the competition is run, how it fits into organised professional football, and whether its integrity protections are strong enough.
What an application must contain
An application has to identify the competition clearly, explain who is behind it, and set out how it would operate in practice. It also has to explain why the applicant says the competition meets the authorisation criteria, and it must be accompanied by written confirmation that the applicant irrevocably agrees to be bound by the rules, including the dispute resolution provisions.
The name of the competition. The identity of the organiser and its beneficial owner, together with the organiser's financial standing and insurance coverage. The source of funding for the competition. A list of the participating clubs, or the qualifying criteria that identify them. Details of the payments and prize monies awarded to participating clubs, of any solidarity payments or distributions of revenue to grassroots football, and of any other proposed recipients of revenue from the competition.
Then the proposed dates, with an indication of any potential conflict with the league fixture list and other approved competitions; the proposed venues; and a copy of any regulations governing the competition. Finally, any stated values or ethical standards applicable to the competition, including on match fixing, anti-doping and equality, and the relevant sanctions; details of any prior or parallel consultation with The Football Association, FIFA, UEFA, player representative bodies or other relevant stakeholders; and an explanation of why, in the applicant's opinion, the competition meets the authorisation criteria.
How the board judges the application
The authorisation criteria sit under three headings: administration, sporting and technical levels, and ethical standards. All three have to be satisfied, and each heading sets out examples rather than a closed list, so the board is not limited to the matters named under it.
On administration, the question is whether the competition has an appropriate administration, including sufficient financial standing and insurance coverage to stage and maintain it.
On sporting and technical levels, the matters include but are not limited to whether the competition observes the Laws of the Game together with the values and principles underpinning them; whether matches are overseen by an appropriate refereeing organisation; whether they are staged at appropriate venues, with acceptable health and safety standards to protect the wellbeing of all participants; whether the competition is organised in a coordinated manner within an overall match calendar, so that it integrates into an organised system of professional football at national and international level; and whether it is governed by an appropriate regulatory framework overseen by an effective governing body.
On ethical standards, the matters again include but are not limited to whether there is no risk of undue influence on the course or outcome of matches; whether an appropriate anti-doping programme is maintained; whether appropriate restrictions on betting are maintained for match participants, such as players, club officials and match officials; whether appropriate measures protect the human dignity of all participants; and whether a fair and independent disciplinary or dispute resolution mechanism, with proportionate sanctions, deals with breaches of the competition's own rules and regulations.
The timetable from submission to provisional decision
Here is the timetable from submission to a provisional written decision.
| Step | The time allowed |
|---|---|
| The league says what is missing from the application | Within four weeks of submission |
| The application goes to all clubs, and a summary is published for public comment | Within four weeks of being judged complete |
| Comments are accepted | A minimum of four weeks |
| Comments are passed to the applicant | Within two weeks of that period ending |
| The applicant may respond | Within four weeks of receiving them |
| The league sends the board an evaluation package | Within six weeks of passing on the comments |
| The board issues a provisional written decision with reasons | Within eight weeks of receiving the package |
The process does not move straight into board consideration on the day an application is filed. First, the league checks whether the application is complete, and the case goes no further until the league is reasonably satisfied that it is complete. After that, club comments, public comments, any applicant reply, and anything else the league considers helpful are assembled into the evaluation package sent to the board. The board's provisional conclusions must then be given with reasons and by reference to the authorisation criteria.
FAQ
What is an approved competition in the Premier League rules?
It is a competition, a single match, or a series of matches that is treated as an approved competition within the Premier League rules. Eight competitions are already listed. Anything other than those has to go through the authorisation process, and even then the board deems it approved at its discretion.
Who decides whether a new competition can be approved?
The decision sits with the board. The league handles the completeness check, gathers comments from every club and from interested parties, and sends the evaluation package forward, but the provisional written decision with reasons comes from the board.
How long can the application process take?
The rules give stage-by-stage deadlines rather than one fixed overall total. The full length depends on when the application is accepted as complete, because the process stops at the first stage until that point is reached, and on the comment period, which runs for a minimum of four weeks.
What written agreement does the applicant have to give?
The applicant must provide written confirmation that it irrevocably agrees to be bound by the rules. That confirmation also covers the dispute resolution provisions, so it is not limited to the application form itself.