Independent Football Regulator David Kogan has warned Prime Minister Andy Burnham he will resign if there is any Government interference in the Manchester City Premier League financial rules case.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham gives an tv interview backdropped by the Reichstag building that hosts the German parliament, the Bundestag, following his meeting with the German Chancellor in Berlin on October 8, 2026 . (Photo by Sean GALLUP / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham gives an tv interview backdropped by the Reichstag building that hosts the German parliament, the Bundestag, following his meeting with the German Chancellor in Berlin on October 8, 2026 . (Photo by Sean GALLUP / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
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(Image: SEAN GALLUP, POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Football regulator David Kogan has warned he will resign should there be any Government interference in the Manchester City case.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham sent shockwaves through the football world after admitting he would be "really concerned" if the City owners opted to sell the club following their guilty verdict for breaching Premier League spending rules.
Burnham, formerly the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has disclosed that he held talks with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, with the Abu Dhabi ownership having ploughed millions into regenerating the surrounding area. This has prompted warnings that the United Arab Emirates could scale back investment into the United Kingdom, depending on the severity of the punishment handed down to City.
The newly-established Independent Football Regulator holds the ultimate authority to strip ownership from clubs. City are contesting the verdict but could face a substantial points deduction or even expulsion from the Premier League.
IFR chair Kogan said: "Let me be really, really clear about this. You'll be aware that the original legislation brought in by the Conservative Government had in it a reference which we have to take some regard of some British trade relationships. That was removed from the legislation.
"Actually this was specifically discussed when it was going through Parliament so we are absolutely bound by one thing and that one thing is regulating football and regulating football clubs.
"Considerations beyond that are beyond our view and are not going to be part of any decision that we make about any outcome of any club that we regulate.
"Our independence is absolute and my independence personally is absolute. I made it very clear last year that if have any form of Government interference on the way we operate is going to result in me resigning from this role and I stand by that completely.
"I should say, to be crystal clear, we've come under absolutely no political pressure on this or any other topic and I don't expect to in the future. Ministers know full well that we are going to act completely independently."
City have lodged an appeal, though no precise timeline has been set for when the final verdict will be delivered by a newly appointed independent panel. Sanctions can be imposed even before the appeal process has concluded.
They were found guilty of fabricating "sham" contracts to artificially inflate commercial deals, granting them greater financial muscle over their Premier League competitors. The ruling has sparked fierce backlash from rival clubs, who are demanding robust punitive measures.
The new regulator holds the authority to force a club's sale in cases involving criminal activity or where ownership is deemed unsuitable.
Should City's ownership be proven complicit in false accounting, the IFR could strip them of the club entirely. Under the IFR's new powers, every club will be required to apply for a licence, with that process commencing from next month.
City's licence will not be under threat while the appeals process continues, though that could change should the appeal ultimately fail.
Kogan added: "We have powers within the legislation which allow us to review the owners and directors and also senior executives and also whether those owners are fit and proper people to run clubs going forward.
"What we would do in that particular instance - we would already be across any accusations against that club and therefore we would be having a view of whether a licence could be awarded.
"We haven't had that prospect yet because we don't start licensing clubs until November but we will be looking at the criteria that we have put forward in the presentation as well as any other circumstances that may affect them.
"But let's be clear, there's an appeal process going on and we don't know what the outcome of that appeal process might be so we can't make any precipitation judgements on any individual case at this stage.
"The process is currently going through an appeal process and until we know the outcome of the appeal because it's possible that Manchester City would argue - and this is what they've said right the way through - that they've got clear right on their side. That has to be tested by the new independent commission."
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