The UK’s National Crime Agency has frozen $13.6 million in a Barclays account belonging to The Football Association Premier League Limited under a Proceeds of Crime Act account freezing order granted by Westminster Magistrates’ Court in January 2025 and recently reported publicly. The sum is the opening payment from fantasy-sports platform Sorare under a four-year 2023 licensing deal for official digital player cards across all 20 clubs, valued at approximately $163 million; the partnership concluded naturally at the contract’s expiration and was not terminated due to regulatory inquiry. The NCA says the civil order aims to stop dissipation of the funds while it examines potential links to alleged third-party criminality, without accusing the Premier League of wrongdoing; the league has asked the court to vary the order and is challenging it. Sorare has contested elements of The Sun’s coverage, clarifying that it is not under investigation by the NCA and that the frozen account does not belong to Sorare. Separately, Sorare faces a Gambling Commission trial over alleged unlicensed gambling under the Gambling Act 2005; the company submitted not-guilty pleas in October 2024 and the hearing, initially scheduled for June 2026, has been postponed to June 2027. It firmly rejects classification as a gambling service and intends to contest vigorously, arguing its product is skill-based. The episode sits alongside broader UK scrutiny, including a June 2026 FCA warning to clubs about partnerships with unlicensed cryptocurrency entities.