City are at risk of serious sanctions after being found guilty of Premier League financial rule breaches over a nine-year periodCredit: Getty
The UK Government will not intervene in any decisions regarding the Manchester City case following the guilty verdict on financial charges.
That has been confirmed by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy, who told talkSPORT that the new Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has power to remove the owners if need be.
3City are at risk of serious sanctions after being found guilty of Premier League financial rule breaches over a nine-year periodCredit: Getty
An independent commission ruled that City are guilty on all charges of financial rule breaches in the Premier League from the 2009/10 season to 2017/18.
They are said to have artificially inflated their revenue by move than £900million through 'sham' contracts, and multiple breaches of non-cooperation with the investigation.
City have lodged an appeal and claim to have a 'comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence' that supports their innocence, but still face sanctions including points deductions, stripped titles and relegation.
Premier League clubs are understood to fear political interference in the case after Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would be 'really concerned' if City owners Abu Dhabi United Group had to sell.
However, Nandy has eased fears of government intervention as she insisted to talkSPORT that it's down to football to make a decision on the club's outcome, which could be announced early next year.
Nandy: UK Government will not be involved in City case
Speaking to chief football correspondent Alex Crook, she said: "I want to be crystal clear that, whilst we are really grateful to investors who come from all over the world to invest in our clubs and help to ensure their viability and their success, they are custodians, both of their clubs and of the game.
"They have a responsibility to play by the rules and uphold the rules. So, we will not, as a government, be involved in any decision-making around whether these allegations are upheld, it's for football to determine that because the integrity of the game is at stake.
"Once that has been determined, obviously there is a role for government to manage any fallout from that. But the integrity of the game is not in question, it is not up for grabs.
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"I've been very clear since I became Culture Secretary that people don't want to see politics in their game. They want the joy of the game, the love of the game, the excitement of the game, and they want to make sure that fans are at the heart of that process.
"That is the right and proper role governing, it's to protect that integrity and put the fans back at the heart of football where they belong. That's what we've done with the Football Governance Act and the Independent Regulator, and it's now for football to step up and make a determination in this case, and really meet this moment."
3Nandy insisted to talkSPORT that the UK Government will not get involved in any decision-making regarding City's case amid fears of political interferenceCredit: Getty
IFR could remove City owners
The IFR, which was created in September 2025, works as part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and is tasked with protecting and sustaining English football.
Chairman David Kogan said on Tuesday that, if he was to come under political pressure in regards to City's case, then he would resign.
In light of this stance, as well as the IFR's State of the Game Report, Crook asked Nandy about what powers the regulator has in terms of City and their ongoing challenge.
"Obviously, there is an independent process currently running its course. Manchester City has appealed, there is an independent tribunal that the Premier League has established, which will hear that appeal," she said.
"But once that tribunal concludes, if the allegations are upheld, the Independent Football Regulator can intervene, he can investigate the ownership and, at its most extreme, he can compel the owners if he believes they're not fit (to run) the club.
"We're not there yet, it's absolutely right that Manchester City get the right to defend themselves and they do strongly refute the allegations.
The IFR has the power to remove City's owners if their appeal fails and they are deemed to be unfit to run the clubCredit: Getty
3The IFR has the power to remove City's owners if their appeal fails and they are deemed to be unfit to run the clubCredit: Getty
"But in the event that they do not believe that a club is in safe hands, we've fought tooth and nail to give the Independent Regulator the power (to remove the owners).
"I am not prepared to see other fans going through what we went through at Wigan, what the Bury fans went through, and so many others besides."