UK authorities have frozen $13.5 million as part of an investigation into Sorare, the crypto-based fantasy football company that holds a sponsorship deal with the Premier League. The freezing order was issued by Westminster Magistrates' Court in January 2025, according to details of the case now emerging.
Sorare, which allows users to buy, sell and trade digital player cards, has positioned itself as one of the more visible crypto brands in European football, using its Premier League association to build recognition among fans across the continent. The freezing order attaches to that profile directly, marking one of the more prominent instances of a UK court acting against funds connected to a sports-sponsoring crypto firm.
Scope of the order
The court order covers the $13.5 million sum but does not, based on available information, extend further detail on how the funds were identified or where they were held. Westminster Magistrates' Court, which regularly handles applications under UK proceeds-of-crime powers, issued the freeze in January, though the matter has only now come to public attention.
No further particulars have been disclosed about the nature of the investigation into Sorare or the reasoning behind the action. UK authorities have not released a public statement elaborating on the case beyond confirmation of the freezing order itself.
A European enforcement flashpoint
The case lands at a moment when UK regulators and law enforcement bodies have taken an increasingly active posture toward crypto firms operating in Britain, including those with consumer-facing partnerships. Sorare's Premier League tie-up gave the company a level of mainstream visibility that few crypto platforms in Europe have achieved, making any enforcement action against it notable well beyond the digital-assets industry.
For a Premier League audience accustomed to seeing Sorare branding around match coverage and club partnerships, the freezing order raises questions about the durability of crypto sponsorships in top-tier European sport, an arrangement that has already drawn scrutiny from regulators in other jurisdictions over consumer protection concerns.
Sorare has not issued a public comment on the freezing order, and the Premier League has not commented on the status of its sponsorship arrangement with the company. Further details of the investigation are expected to emerge as the case proceeds through the UK court system.
