UK’s crime agency freezes Premier League $13.5 million account in crypto crime probe
The UK's National Crime Agency has frozen $13.5 million in funds linked to a former partnership between the Premier League and the fantasy sports platform Sorare. The freeze is part of an ongoing investigation into potential third-party criminality, though the Premier League is not suspected of wrongdoing.
Why it matters
This highlights the increasing regulatory scrutiny of crypto-based partnerships in professional sports and the legal risks associated with blockchain platforms.
The order to freeze the funds, obtained from Westminster Magistrates' Court in January 2025 under the Proceeds of Crime Act, is understood to relate to the first payment made by Sorare under its $140 million, four-year partnership deal with the Premier League, signed in 2023, The Sun reported Tuesday . The deal was terminated at the end of last season. There is no suspicion of wrongdoing by the Premier League.
"The purpose of the order is to prevent dissipation of the funds while the NCA investigates any potential links between those funds and alleged third-party criminality," an NCA spokesperson said in a statement via email. The agency did not specify the crime it is investigating.
Neither the Premier League nor Sorare responded to CoinDesk’s request for further comment.
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