Regulator would quit over Man City interference

David Kogan, the chairman of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), has stated that he would resign if faced with any political interference regarding the future of Manchester City. The IFR holds the authority to evaluate the suitability of club owners and executives.

Should the findings of an independent commission, which determined that Manchester City violated Premier League financial regulations, be sustained, the regulator will then be tasked with determining whether it is necessary to mandate the sale of the club.

Recently, Prime Minister Andy Burnham received backlash for expressing concern over the potential sale of Manchester City's ownership by its Abu Dhabi stakeholders.

In response to Burnham's remarks, Kogan stated to BBC Sport, "The Prime Minister is entirely entitled to make his own observations on anything. We are independent. That is in the name. I am the chairman of the Independent Football Regulator, and independence absolutely runs through everything we're doing. And no politician has tried to influence and would try to influence anything we do on that."

When asked how he would respond to political pressure regarding the issue, Kogan noted, "I would resign."

An independent commission concluded that Manchester City breached financial regulations over a nine-year timeframe from 2009 to 2018 by orchestrating "sham" contracts with commercial partners to clandestinely allocate over £830 million to their football operations. City has maintained their innocence and filed an appeal against the ruling.

The Prime Minister initially shared his concerns with the BBC but subsequently denied that his comments minimized the gravity of the commission's findings.

However, some Premier League clubs expressed astonishment at Burnham's comments, with sources informing BBC Sport that they are "concerned" about the potential for political interference in the appeal process.

Burnham's previous position as mayor of Greater Manchester has sparked inquiries into his ties with the Abu Dhabi ownership of Manchester City. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for the disclosure of all interactions between the Prime Minister and senior club officials, leading to the release of these details by the government on Monday.

Kogan emphasized the regulator's commitment to a clear, statutory course of action by stating, "As far as we, as the regulator, are concerned, we have a very, 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."

He continued, "Process is going to drive what we do. Process will lead us to a conclusion. We cannot reach any conclusion at this stage because we don't know the outcome of any appeal and once we do, then we will act accordingly."

An independent panel will convene a sanctions hearing to determine consequences, a process that could extend over several months. Manchester City has the right to appeal both the verdict and any sanctions imposed, which creates a climate of uncertainty for both the club and the league.

Possible repercussions for Manchester City may include substantial fines, point deductions, exclusion from the Premier League, or the annulment of the eight titles they secured during the scrutinized period.

When asked about the urgency of reaching a resolution, Kogan affirmed, "I think it's very important."

He further noted that the case presents "very serious issues" should an appeal find Manchester City guilty of the allegations outlined in the commission's findings.

"We are waiting like everybody else to see what the independent panel will do… and then we will bring in a view in terms of our own investigation and statutory powers if we need to do so," Kogan stated. "Our powers relate to individual owners, directors, and senior executives. They refer to whether people are in a position to run a club in a way that is safe, coherent, and done with probity, and we will be examining those things."

An independent commission conducted a 42-day hearing in 2024, culminating in the announcement of the verdict last month. Manchester City was found guilty of all charges except for one concerning non-cooperation with the Premier League investigation. The commission's report indicated that "a number of important club witnesses gave false evidence in key respects and that some knowingly gave untrue and dishonest evidence."