Morecambe FC censured by football regulator

Morecambe Football Club and its owners have been officially reprimanded by the Independent Football Regulator (IFR).

The club and its directors Kuljit Singh Momi and Harjit Singh have become the first to receive a censure statement from the IFR, which was established by the government in 2025 to protect and promote the sustainability of English football.

The censure statement was issued to the club and owners "for failing to provide a timely and complete response to information requirements imposed on it" under the Football Governance Act.

"The provision of accurate and timely information to the IFR is essential for the IFR to effectively fulfill its role," says the censure statement.

"Clubs and others must fully comply with information requirements imposed by the IFR using its statutory powers.

"The IFR considers it appropriate to publish this censure statement in order to ensure transparency and awareness across the industry, and to act as a deterrent for future non-compliance."

The statement, issued on August 5, followed a Decision Notice also published by the IFR, after the club responded to a Warning Notice issued by the regulator in July.

"On 28 July 2026, the club’s CEO (Ropinder Singh) sent written representations to the IFR by email," said the Decision Notice.

Ropinder Singh, CEO of Morecambe FC

"The representations put forward the following views...they inherited a club facing significant financial and operational challenges; they sought to engage openly, constructively and transparently with all relevant football authorities, including the Independent Football Regulator; they met with the IFR in person and openly shared both the challenges they had inherited and the plans they were implementing to address them; they have made every effort to provide the information requested by the IFR; they acknowledge that there were occasions when information was submitted later than requested and do not seek to dispute that fact, nor do they seek to avoid responsibility for those delays.

"The delays were never the result of any unwillingness to cooperate or any attempt to withhold information. Rather, they reflected the practical realities of managing a football club in exceptionally challenging circumstances.

"Whilst they accept shortcomings in relation to the timing of certain submissions, they expressed a concern that the IFR’s proposed sanction was disproportionate to the nature of the breach and that the impact of the sanction would extend beyond the club’s ownership, vis-a-vis supporter confidence, and discouraging existing and prospective commercial partners.

"Looking ahead the representations also sought to highlight: ongoing efforts to stabilise the club; and a commitment to working constructively with the IFR in the future and to strengthen internal processes to ensure that future information requests are met promptly and efficiently.

"The IFR has given careful consideration to the written representations provided on 28 July 2026.

"The IFR’s overall assessment of the written representations is that they do not set out any additional facts or circumstances over and above the information previously provided in the 16 June response which causes the IFR to depart from the view set out in the Warning Notice (that the respondents do not have a reasonable excuse for failing to comply with the RFIs (Requests for Information).

"The written representations, as a whole, seek to emphasise the overriding point previously made in the 16 June response, namely that the respondents took over the club in challenging circumstances.

"In setting out the proposed sanction, the Warning Notice took on board the circumstances surrounding the club at the time of the RFIs at step 3 (proportionality).

"As set out in the Warning Notice, the IFR’s level 1 seriousness categorisation, combined with the proposed censure statements, amount to the lowest level of seriousness and sanction which could be applied to a failure to comply with an information requirement.

"The IFR remains of the view that the respondents could and should have done more to engage with the IFR in relation to both RFIs in a timely manner.

"The annexes to the RFIs clearly set out the likely consequences of non-compliance, of which the respondents should therefore have been aware.

"The IFR further notes the respondents’ acknowledgment that there were occasions when information was submitted later than requested. 

"In summary, the IFR concludes that the written representations do not provide a reasonable excuse for the information breaches, nor do they alter the IFR’s proposed sanction, which as stated above, is the lowest form of sanction which could be applied.

The Halo Aerospace Stadium, home of Morecambe FC

"The IFR’s final decision in this matter as explained in further detail below is: The respondents committed information breaches (without reasonable excuse); and The appropriate sanction is a censure statement."

Following the regulator's Warning Notice in July, the club issued a statement saying they were "disappointed" and "strongly dispute" that it was justified.

"Morecambe Football Club and its two directors acknowledge the warning notice issued by the Independent Football Regulator ("IFR")," said the statement.

"Whilst the club and its owners can confirm that they fully support and respect the regulator’s oversight of the football industry, they are disappointed by the decision to issue this warning notice, particularly in light of the extensive cooperation, transparency and engagement demonstrated by both the club and its directors throughout the regulatory process.

"The club and its owners strongly dispute that a warning notice is justified in the circumstances.

"They consider that insufficient weight has been given to the significant mitigating factors, the unprecedented operational challenges inherited following the acquisition of the club in August 2025, and the considerable efforts made to work constructively with the IFR at every stage.

"Notwithstanding that this alleged breach is at the IFR’s lowest level of seriousness, the club and its directors are taking legal advice and will submit detailed representations within the 14-day period prescribed by the IFR.

"They remain confident that those representations will demonstrate why no further regulatory action is warranted.

"Morecambe FC thanks its supporters, sponsors and staff for their continued support and loyalty throughout this period and continues to welcome informed and transparent engagement via appropriate and professional channels with any of its supporter and community representative parties, as it was pleased to see yesterday with the Shrimps Trust.

"Following the club’s rescue last August by Panjab Warriors, the club and its owners are proud of the many positive steps taken in recent months both on and off the pitch in preparation for the new 2026/27 football season and are looking forward to it with renewed optimism."

Kuljit Singh Momi and Harjit Singh became directors of Morecambe FC after Panjab Warriors bought the club in August 2025. Mr Singh Momi is club chairman.

The IFR Warning Notice says that on February 20, the IFR asked the club for information "necessary for the IFR to establish and oversee its Owners, Directors and Senior Executives (ODSE) regime and to implement the additional duties regime".

It says the club failed to meet the March 20 deadline to provide the information.

On March 31, the IFR made a further request "seeking information relating to the financial position of the club and its owners necessary for the purpose of administering the ODSE regime" giving a deadline of April 8 and included a further request for responses to the previous questions.

The IFR also sent a separate letter addressed to the club and owners "primarily relating to other matters".

"On April 8 2026 the IFR received an email from Kuljit Singh Momi stating 'Below is the information in relation to Morecambe Football Club Ltd'," said the IFR.

"The email purported to provide answers...however the replies did not fully address the questions."

The notice says the IFR then replied on April 9 asking for all missing information by April 14 and the deadline was not met.

On June 4, the IFR issued an investigation notice to Mr Singh Momi, Mr Singh and the club.

This said that "there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the respondents have failed to comply with information requirements imposed on them...without reasonable excuse".

This gave a deadline for the missing information to be provided, and explanations for their non-compliance, by June 12.

On June 6, the club was formally relegated from the National League to the National League North as part of the National League’s Annual General Meeting, after finishing third from bottom in the league season which had finished in April.

This meant that the club was no longer a regulated club for the purpose of the IFR’s ODSE regime. 

The notice says that Kuljit Singh Momi sent an email to the IFR on June 12 stating that “detailed and comprehensive responses” would be provided to the IFR by June 15.

The IFR said that on June 16, some of the missing information was provided, while leaving several questions unanswered. 

The regulator therefore said that it "considers that each of the respondents has breached information requirements imposed upon them by the IFR under section 65 of the Football Governance Act without reasonable excuse".

The club and owners were given a deadline to make representations regarding the content of the Warning Notice by 5pm on July 28.

* Meanwhile, Morecambe FC and other non-league clubs have been placed under a transfer embargo due to "non-compliance with league financial regulations".

The embargo, which prevents the club from signing a new player or changing the terms of an existing loan, except where the terms of the embargo allow, was imposed on August 11 by The National League.

The league also imposed embargos on Altrincham, AC Fylde, Aldershot Town, FC Halifax Town and Hornchurch.

The reason for the embargo has not been given, but the National League may place a club under embargo if it meets one of the following criteria: where a club has undergone an Insolvency Event; where a club has been served with a winding-up petition which has not been satisfied in full or to the satisfaction of the petitioning creditors as evidenced by written agreement; or where a club has either defaulted on such an agreement or has omitted or incorrectly reported its failure to adhere to the terms of any agreement.

Lizzi Collinge, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale (below), said on Wednesday: "I'm disappointed to hear that Morecambe FC is under embargo for a third time this year.

"This will cause more worry and uncertainty for supporters following yet another year of concerns about the club. 

"I will be raising the matter directly with the club when I next meet with them, along with other serious concerns raised by constituents. And I will continue to do what I can to support Morecambe FC staff and its fans.”

Last week, Ms Collinge offered support to Shrimps staff after the club was reported to The Pensions Regulator - the UK regulator of work-based pension schemes.

Morecambe FC kicked off the season in the National League North on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at home to Spennymoor Town.

Beyond Radio has contacted Morecambe FC for comment on the censure statement and the embargo.

Read more: Morecambe FC "disappointed" after football regulator issues warning notice - Beyond Radio

MP offers support to staff after Morecambe FC reported to The Pensions Regulator - Beyond Radio