David Kogan, chairman of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), said he would resign if he faced political interference over the fate of Manchester City. The club is under investigation after an independent commission found it broke Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018.
Kogan told BBC Sport: “No politician has tried to influence and would try to influence anything we do on that.” When pressed on what he would do if political pressure arose, he replied simply, “I would resign.” The IFR has the authority to assess the suitability of club owners and senior executives, and could force a sale if sanctions are upheld.
Last month, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would be “really concerned” if the scandal led to the sale of Manchester City by its Abu Dhabi owners. Burnham called the club “a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester” and spoke of its rise as a global force. His comments prompted some Premier League clubs to express concern about potential political interference in the appeal process. Burnham was mayor of Greater Manchester before becoming prime minister, raising questions about his relationship with the club’s owners.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch demanded full disclosure of meetings between Burnham and senior figures at Manchester City. The government released these details on Monday.
Kogan, a former sports media rights executive appointed IFR chairman one year ago, said: “We have a very clear course of action that is governed by statute and we are going to follow that course of action, and no comment by any politician or indeed any individual is going to affect what we do.”
His appointment was scrutinised by the Commissioner for Public Appointments because of his past links to the Labour Party, including donations to the leadership campaigns of Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy. Shadow Culture Minister Louie French wrote to the government expressing “concerns about the IFR’s ability to adjudicate this case fairly, free from political interference.”
Kogan responded: “I can tell you absolutely categorically that any politician who’s trying to meddle in this for political purposes is welcome to try and welcome to do it, but I am going to stand by the probity of the organisation that I lead.”
The commission found Manchester City guilty of breaking financial rules by inflating the value of commercial deals as part of a “disguised funding scheme” worth £830m. The owners, Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), controlled by Sheikh Mansour, vice-president and deputy prime minister of the UAE, deny wrongdoing and have appealed.
An independent panel will hold a sanctions hearing, which could take months, to decide on the club’s punishment. Manchester City can appeal both the verdict and any sanction, leaving the Premier League in a state of uncertainty. Punishments could range from a large fine to point deductions or expulsion from the league.
Kogan said resolving the case quickly was “very important.” He added that the case raises “very serious issues if Manchester City on appeal is found to be guilty of the allegations within those findings.”
He said the IFR’s statutory powers relate to owners, directors, and senior executives, focusing on whether individuals are “in a position to run a club in a way that is safe, coherent and done with probity.” The regulator will examine those factors as it proceeds.
Asked if the IFR could withhold a club licence from Manchester City when it begins issuing them next month, Kogan said, “I’m not going to begin to comment on any actions we may take until we’ve had a chance to assess it.”
On the question of state-connected ownership, Kogan said, “We have no powers to prevent state ownership of clubs. It’s not within our remit.”
The commission’s report also stated that “a number of important club witnesses gave false evidence in key respects and that some knowingly gave untrue and dishonest evidence.”
The report followed a 42-day hearing held this year. Manchester City was found guilty on all charges except one accusing the club of non-cooperation with the Premier League investigation.
The club’s ongoing appeal and the regulator’s pending decisions have left the Premier League awaiting a final resolution.
According to Joy Online.
