September 27 – The fantasy sports platform, Sorare, and official partner of the Premier League has been charged by the UK Gambling Commission.

On October 4 the company founded by Nicholas Julia and Adrien Montfort will appear before Birmingham magistrates to answer the charges of allegedly “providing unlicensed gambling facilities to consumers in Britain.”

Back in 2023 the Premier League announced with much fan-fare a four-year licensing deal that would allow Sorare to release digital cards of players from Premier League clubs to participate in its free-to-play fantasy football game.

Sorare allows players to buy digital player cards (NFT’s, or non-fungible tokens) with cryptocurrencies to win and mange a virtual team. Players can then compete to win cash, tickets, signed jerseys and more.

The Gambling Commission back in 2021 voiced concerns on whether Soare was providing a gambling service and therefore needed a special license. The Premier League has not yet commented on the Gambling Commissions charge.

Notable clubs and players have been and are associated with Soare, including Liverpool, Real Madrid striker, Kylian Mbappe, and former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, who is an investor in the platform.

A Soare spokesman said: “We firmly deny any claims that Sorare is a gambling product under UK laws. The Commission has misunderstood our business and wrongly determined that gambling laws apply to Sorare. We cannot comment further whilst legal proceedings are underway.”

Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1727410226labto1727410226ofdlr1727410226owedi1727410226sni@o1727410226fni1727410226