Football regulator chief vows to quit over Man City meddling
Key takeaways
- David Kogan said he would resign if politics meddles in the Man City case. He leads the Independent Football Regulator.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would be "really concerned" if City's owners sold the club.
- City have appealed a verdict that they broke Premier League rules over nine years.
The head of English football's new regulator has made a blunt vow. David Kogan said he would resign if any politician meddled in the Manchester City case. He said his body had faced no such pressure so far.
He said he did not expect any in the future.
Kogan chairs the Independent Football Regulator, known as the IFR. He spoke at the launch of the regulator's first State of the Game report. The report also laid bare the weak finances of English clubs.
What happened
Kogan was asked what he would do if he faced political pressure over City. His answer was short. "I would resign," he said.
He added that no politician had tried to sway his work. He said the regulator's course was set by law.
The row began with words from Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Burnham said he would be "really concerned" if City's Abu Dhabi owners sold the club. Critics said those words could hint at soft treatment.
Opposition politicians raised concerns. Some Premier League clubs also raised concerns.
Burnham later said his words did not play down the case against City. The government released details of his meetings with senior club figures on Monday. It did so after calls for more openness.
Kogan answered the row head-on. He said the Prime Minister was free to share views on any topic. He said the regulator was free to ignore them.
"We are independent," he said. "That is in the name." He said no comment by any politician would change what the regulator does.
The backdrop is a huge case. An independent commission found that City broke financial rules. The breaches ran over nine years, from 2009 to 2018. It said the club used fake deals to channel more than 830 million pounds into its football work.
It also said some club witnesses gave false or dishonest evidence. City deny wrongdoing. They have appealed the verdict.
A separate panel will hold a sanctions hearing. It will decide the punishment if the verdict stands. That process could take months.
City can appeal any sanction too. Possible punishments include a big fine or a points deduction. They also include expulsion from the Premier League or the loss of titles.
Why it matters
The IFR has real power in this case. Once the appeal ends, it will judge the people at the club. It can bar owners, directors, or senior staff.
It can even force an owner to sell the club. Kogan said the regulator would judge the people at the club. It will ask if they can run a club with care and honesty.
The regulator will also start to issue licences next month. Clubs must hold a licence to play. This covers the Premier League, the EFL, and the National League.
The licence will weigh finances, governance, and fan links.
Kogan said City will not face a licence ruling until the appeal ends. After that, the verdict will count in the licence call.
The State of the Game report gave the vow more weight. It found that 94 per cent of clubs lose money. The report covered 116 clubs in the top four tiers.
It found that 73 of them could not last 90 days without owner cash.
It found that 32 clubs could not last 30 days. It found that clubs owe a net 3.3 billion pounds in transfer debt.
More than 60 per cent of EFL and National League clubs are technically insolvent. That means their debts are bigger than their assets.
The same is true for 20 per cent of Premier League clubs.
Kogan also pushed for a fairer cash split. He wants an extra 180 million pounds a year for the EFL. He wants lower parachute payments for relegated clubs.
He said the gap between the rich and the rest has grown too wide.
What happens next
The appeal comes first. The regulator will wait for the panel to rule. Kogan said his team cannot reach a view until then.
Once the appeal ends, the regulator will act on its own powers if it must.
The licensing scheme starts next month. Clubs will need to pass tests on cash, governance, and fan links. The regulator will also block tricks that inflate profits on paper.
Selling a women's team to a sister firm will not count. The same goes for a stadium or a hotel.
Want the money side of the case? Read our report on the 799.5 million pound cost to rival clubs. For City's latest result, see Man City's 3-0 win at Liverpool.
For more English football this week, read Coventry's 4-1 win over Newcastle.
Kogan's message was plain. The regulator will follow the process. Politics will not bend it.
If it ever tries, he will walk away.
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