The Football GRC Operating Model

Better football clubs. Built for a regulated game.

Independent Football Regulator (IFR) readiness is the immediate entry point. Stronger operating capability is the enduring need.

Explore how COPA helps Follow the club story

Why we built COPA →

ON THE PITCH. IN THE BOARDROOM.Sporting ambition.
Operating confidence.Governance · Risk · Controls · Evidence · Oversight

What COPA is

COPA helps professional football clubs build and operate a proportionate Football GRC Operating Model, building on what already works and adding capability where needed.

COPA brings governance, risk and compliance (GRC) into the way a football club works day to day, helping leadership understand risk, make better decisions and operate confidently in regulated football while pursuing its sporting and commercial ambitions.

Built on the COPA Operating Standard

The practical framework behind the COPA GRC proposition.

Explore the Standard

The club story

What changes for a club?

From distributed activity to connected capability.

01 / THE CHALLENGE

Capability exists. Is it joined up, strong enough where it matters and does it hold up when tested?

Even where good work is already happening, there can still be gaps, duplication and too much reliance on individual people or informal ways of working.

GapsDuplicationReliance on individuals

02 / THE CONNECTED RESPONSE

A connected response, not another disconnected layer.

COPA connects the club’s existing capability, adds what is missing and helps turn it into one practical operating model.

ResponsibilitiesControls and routinesEvidence and systemsSpecialist input

03 / DEPENDABLE OPERATION

Clear ownership.
Visible evidence.
Stronger decisions.

COPA connects what works, builds what is missing and helps make it dependable in practice.

Repeatable routinesClear oversight

How COPA helps

Define and design. Connect and enable. Implement and sustain.

How COPA works with clubsExplore the five practical steps

IFR Support

Preparing for IFR regulation. Strengthening the club behind the application.

COPA helps clubs understand new regulatory requirements, prepare credible evidence and strengthen the governance, financial and operating capabilities that matter beyond licensing.

Explore IFR Support

COPA Learning

Build understanding.
Bring it into the club.

An online digital learning platform for people across football. Explore self-paced Foundation courses or focused COPA Half-Time learning in 10–15 minutes.

Explore COPA Learning

COPA FOUNDATIONBuild a fuller understanding.Structured learning · Formal assessment · Completion certificate*COPA HALF-TIMEHalf the time.
Not half the value.10–15 minutes · Practical application · Knowledge checks

*Foundation completion certificates follow successful assessment. Half-Time has no formal completion certificate. Four learning experiences. All currently free to access.

The next step

Ready to talk?

If there is something you want to discuss, start a conversation with COPA.

Talk to COPA

A focused first conversation about what the club needs and whether COPA can help.

Start a conversation