FA charges Burton Albion with 28 agent regulation breaches

The Football Association has charged Burton Albion with 28 breaches of its agent regulations, stemming from the club’s record‑breaking 2024 transfer spree, and has also charged agent Conor Hayden over 25 player transactions linked to the summer takeover by Sweden‑based Nordic Football Group.

Burton Albion finished 17th in League One in the 2025‑26 season. The club had previously narrowly avoided relegation from the third tier in the 2024‑25 campaign.

During the summer 2024 takeover by the Sweden‑based Nordic Football Group, Burton undertook an unprecedented squad overhaul, moving 47 players in and out. The overhaul set a new British record by recruiting 23 players in a single transfer window.

Burton outsourced its transfer dealings that summer to a London‑based agent. Agent Conor Hayden was involved in 43 Burton deals, including the appointment of manager Gary Bowyer in December 2024.

The FA alleged that Hayden “concealed and/or misrepresented the reality and/or substance of these transactions so that it was not declared that he had acted for the club.” The charge relates to 28 breaches of the FA’s Football Agent Regulations.

In a statement on the Brewers website, Burton said it was “entitled to use the services” of the agent and admitted it had not immediately made the “necessary disclosures.” The club described the alleged breaches as “administrative oversights” and asserted that neither the club nor Conor gained any benefit.

The club added, “The club wishes to stress that there was no deliberate attempt on its part to circumvent the FA's Football Agent Regulations.” It also said, “Upon being contacted by The FA for clarification … the club apologised and co‑operated … providing fulsome disclosure throughout the investigation.”

has contacted Conor Hayden for comment. Burton and Hayden have until 24 June to respond to the FA charges.