The chair of English soccer’s regulatory body, David Kogan, said Tuesday he would resign if any political interference influenced sanctions against Manchester City following the club’s guilty verdict for breaking Premier League financial rules.
Manchester City was found to have overstated its revenue by more than $1 billion over nearly a decade, from 2009 to 2018, a period during which the club won three league titles and signed top players. The independent panel ruling on the case said City had circumvented fair-play regulations, a decision that could lead to a range of penalties including fines, points deductions, or even expulsion from England’s top flight.
Kogan insisted the regulator had faced no political pressure and expected none in the future, despite the United Arab Emirates’ significant investment in the UK and City’s ownership by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister of the UAE and member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family. “Any form of political interference on the way we operate is going to result in my resigning from this role and I stand by that completely,” Kogan said.
The Independent Football Regulator, established by the UK government last year, oversees governance standards in English soccer and has authority to force club owners to sell or withhold licenses if owners are deemed unfit. Licensing will begin in November, but Kogan suggested City’s ongoing appeal against the verdict would delay any immediate impact on its license to operate. “A verdict once it’s gone through an appeal process will certainly be something that we would clearly be taking into account when looking at awarding a license or looking at the owners, directors and senior executives,” he added.
Kogan’s remarks came shortly after UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed concern over the potential loss of City’s current ownership but said he would not intervene directly in the process.
The case has stirred debate given City’s dominance in English football over the last decade, including multiple Premier League titles, with the club’s financial conduct now under intense scrutiny. The verdict is considered the most significant scandal in Premier League history.
The regulator’s powers extend beyond financial penalties. It can issue or withhold licenses required for clubs to operate, and it can compel ownership changes if necessary. These measures underline the government’s increased role in football governance, aiming to enforce clearer standards and accountability.
City’s appeal remains pending, and until it is resolved, the full consequences of the guilty verdict are uncertain. Kogan emphasized that the regulator’s decisions would be based on the final outcome of that appeal.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
According to Yahoo Sports.
