Gurpreet Singh Rehal, who promised “discipline, trustfulness and compassion” to Morecambe fans when representing Panjab Warriors during their takeover of the football club, has now been sanctioned by the UK government for involvement in terrorism.
A man who promised "discipline, trustfulness and compassion" to Morecambe fans when fronting Panjab Warriors' takeover of the club has been sanctioned by the UK government over accusations of involvement in terrorism.#bbcfootball #morecambefc #shrimps #mfc pic.twitter.com/8pLLHhMNx2
— BBC Sport Cumbria (@bbccumbriasport) December 5, 2025
Rehal was a major figure in the Panjab Warriors’ purchase of Morecambe, a deal that finally finished in August after a long legal fight with the previous owner, Jason Whittingham. The UK Treasury says Rehal recruited people, bought weapons, and provided money to Babbar Khalsa and Babbar Akali Lehar. These groups are banned under UK law because they want to create a separate Sikh state in the Punjab region of India.
As a result, the government has frozen all his assets in the UK and banned him from being a company director. The government said, “The UK has today announced an asset freeze and director disqualification against Gurpreet Singh Rehal, who is suspected of belonging to organisations involved in terrorism in India.”
Morecambe FC and Panjab Warriors have made it clear that Rehal is no longer connected to them. They said he once worked as a consultant in marketing and communications, but had no power over the club’s decisions or ownership. After the serious concerns came up, they quickly cut all ties with him.
The Independent Football Regulator is looking into the matter urgently and is working with other authorities to find out more.
When Panjab Warriors took over Morecambe, many fans were happy because the club was close to shutting down due to unpaid debts and salaries. The group, mainly made up of Sikh investors with most of the money coming from principal shareholder Kuljeet Singh Momi, bought the club just in time to meet financial rules.
On the very first day as owners, Rehal was at the stadium handling media relations. He was introduced as Panjab Warriors’ head of communications, and he, along with CEO Ropinder Singh, gave the group’s first public interview. Rehal told reporters, “We’ll be so transparent, you’re going to be sick of us.”
Although he wasn’t listed as an official director or shareholder, Rehal spoke about Panjab Warriors as “we” during the interview. He also said their heritage would make them more ethical owners. He talked about Punjab as their homeland and said their culture and faith are core principles. “All we want to say is, trust us,” he said.
The Treasury’s announcement said this is the first time the Domestic Counter-Terrorism Regime has been used to block money going to the pro-Khalistan group Babbar Khalsa.
Labour MP Lucy Rigby, the economic secretary to the Treasury, said, “We will not stand by while terrorists exploit Britain’s financial system. This landmark action shows we are prepared to use every tool at our disposal to choke off funding for terrorism wherever it occurs and whoever is responsible. The UK stands firmly with peaceful communities against those who promote violence and hatred.”
It is now illegal under UK law to provide funds or financial services to Rehal. Earlier this week, he was even seen meeting the National League CEO Phil Alexander on behalf of Morecambe, according to photos posted on social media.