David Kogan pledges to quit if politics intrudes on Manchester City case

David Kogan, chair of the Independent Football Regulator, says he would resign if politicians tried to influence its handling of Manchester City’s financial rules case. Speaking on Tuesday at the launch of the State of the Game report, he also said the watchdog had experienced no political pressure on this or any other matter, according to the Guardian.

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The comments followed an independent commission’s finding that City breached Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period. An appeal remains under way. The Guardian reported that the regulator could remove the club’s owner, Abu Dhabi United Group, if the verdict survives that process. Concerns about potential government intervention centre on the ownership’s connections with Abu Dhabi’s rulers; Kogan said his decisions would remain independent.

Kogan explained that the regulator can examine owners, directors and senior executives, including whether owners remain suitable to run clubs. Any intervention would require detailed information, investigation and legal advice before a judgment. A failed ownership assessment covering integrity, honesty and financial soundness could ultimately lead to a compulsory sale. His remarks described those powers, rather than announcing an ownership decision against City, while the regulator prepares a club licensing system for later this season.

The report presented alongside those comments set out major financial disparities across English football. As reported by the Guardian, the highest-revenue Premier League club brings in 605 times as much as the lowest-revenue National League club. Across the 116 clubs covered by the regulator, 94% posted a loss in 2025-26. Eleven Football League clubs had costs above their income even when player wages were excluded.

Kogan identified a funding agreement between the Premier League and EFL as an opportunity for immediate progress. He acknowledged the sharp revenue decline that relegated clubs face, while arguing that parachute payments have increasingly distorted competition. Reducing those payments and sharing more money across clubs, he said, could help address the imbalance.

Both leagues welcomed the report while setting out their positions on a settlement. The Premier League said its recent redistribution proposal met the regulator’s objectives and reaffirmed its commitment to a long-term agreement. The EFL said the findings supported its argument that English football already generates enough revenue to sustain both the top division and the wider pyramid, and pledged to continue working towards a deal.