Gurpreet Singh Rehal: Public face of Morecambe FC takeover sanctioned over suspected terrorist links
The new Independent Football Regulator is taking “urgent” action after one of the public faces of Morecambe FC’s summer takeover was sanctioned over suspected terrorist links.
Morecambe have issued a statement saying that “an individual who previously held a consultancy role” was no longer affiliated with the club after the Government announced that Gurpreet Singh Rehal was suspected of belonging to an organisation involved in terrorism in India.
The Treasury also said that its designation, which freezes Singh’s assets and prevents him from acting as a company director, extends to the group Saving Punjab CIC.
Singh lists himself on LinkedIn both as the chief executive of Saving Punjab, which described itself as a “research-based organisation… looking for sustainable solutions to help Punjab prosper”, and the director of marketing and communications at Panjab Warriors, which owns Morecambe.
When Panjab Warriors completed its purchase of the National League club in June following clearance by the English Football League, Singh was extensively quoted on the club’s website.
“This is more than a business venture; it’s a commitment to the fans, the town, and the future of Morecambe FC,” Singh said. “Our aim is to build upon the club’s rich heritage, ensuring stability and fostering unity across all parts of the community.”
Singh was then referred to by Morecambe as the head of communications for Panjab Warriors.
The Government’s announcement on Singh’s sanctioning was followed on Thursday by a joint statement from Morecambe and Panjab Warriors.
“An individual who previously held a consultancy role in marketing and communications with our organisations is no longer affiliated with either Morecambe FC or Panjab Warriors,” it reads.
“This consultancy position carried no strategic, financial, or operational authority, and he had no involvement in the ownership or club decision-making. Following recent serious concerns that have come to light, we took immediate and decisive action, and his association with both organisations has been fully removed.
“Both organisations operate under strict governance and compliance standards, and we have used this moment to further strengthen our internal processes, including enhanced due diligence checks for key personnel. We will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities and in full alignment with all regulatory requirements.”
The Treasury said the sanctioning of Singh was part of a “landmark action”, saying it had triggered the Domestic Counter-Terrorism Regime for the first time since its powers became active in 2019.
A spokesperson from the UK’s independent football regulator (IFR) said: “We are working with relevant authorities and using our statutory information gathering powers to look into this matter urgently.”
The IFR was not operational when the deal to buy Morecambe was completed six months ago.
