English football regulator chair says he would resign over political interference in Manchester City case

David Kogan, chair of England's Independent Football Regulator (IFR), said on Tuesday he would resign if there were any political interference in how the regulator handles the Manchester City case.

Kogan also said the regulator had faced no political pressure and that no politician had tried to influence its work. Al Jazeera quoted him as saying: "We’ve come under absolutely no political pressure whatsoever on this or any other topic. And I don’t expect to in the future." He told BBC Sport: "I would resign."

An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules over nine years, from 2009 to 2018. The club, which is owned by Abu Dhabi interests, has appealed. The appeal is ongoing.

Kogan said the regulator cannot reach any conclusion at this stage on the club's owners, directors and senior executives because the appeal's outcome is unknown, and will act accordingly once it is. "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," the BBC quoted him as saying.

If the verdict is upheld, the regulator has statutory powers to assess whether the owners are suitable, and could force a sale. Possible punishments for the club include a large fine, points deductions or expulsion from the Premier League. According to the BBC, a sanctions hearing, which could take months to convene, will decide the punishment. City can appeal both the verdicts and any sanction. Beyond the BBC's indication on the sanctions hearing, the reports reviewed by Vocemundi give no timeline for the appeals.

The regulator is preparing a licensing regime for clubs. According to Al Jazeera, licensing begins in November, and Kogan suggested the verdict would not affect a licence for City while its appeal continues.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would be "really concerned" if the club's current Abu Dhabi ownership left. According to the BBC, sources told BBC Sport that some Premier League clubs were concerned about political interference in the appeal process. The BBC also reported that the government released details on Monday of meetings between the prime minister and senior club figures. The reports do not describe their content.

What is disputed

The reports describe the wrongdoing differently. Al Jazeera reported that City inflated its revenue by more than $1bn. The BBC reported that City used "sham" contracts with commercial partners to funnel more than £830m into its football operations. The difference may partly reflect currency conversion. The reports do not reconcile the figures.

What each side says

• Kogan: The regulator is independent and will follow a statutory process after the appeal.
• Manchester City: According to the BBC, the club insists it is innocent.
• Burnham: According to Al Jazeera, he said he would not get "directly involved in the process". According to the BBC, he denied his reaction downplayed the findings.
• Kemi Badenoch (Conservative leader): According to the BBC, she demanded the release of details of the meetings.

Analysis

The case places a new regulator's independence under early public scrutiny. Kogan's pledge to resign sets a clear personal benchmark, but the decisive steps depend on the appeal and a sanctions hearing that, according to the BBC, could take months to convene. Several outcomes remain possible. If the verdict is overturned, the regulator's ownership powers may not be triggered. If it is upheld, the regulator would have to judge owner suitability amid political attention to the club's Abu Dhabi ownership. Debate over the prime minister's remarks and meetings may continue to shape perceptions, regardless of the process itself.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.