Independent Football Regulator chair David Kogan states the body must rely solely on evidence before ruling on Manchester City's appeal. He has warned he would resign if political interference were detected in the process.
David Kogan, chair of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), has stated that the body must "go on the evidence" before making any decision regarding the ongoing case against Manchester City. Speaking to BBC Sport, Kogan emphasized that the regulator is currently waiting to determine the outcome of Manchester City's appeal against the guilty verdicts issued by an independent commission.
Manchester City has been found guilty of all charges related to inflating sponsorship income by £830m and expenses by £90m, allegations the club denies while maintaining its appeal. According to BBC Sport's analysis, these financial irregularities, described by the Premier League's commission as a "disguised funding scheme," significantly altered the competitive landscape of the English top flight between 2009 and 2018. The regulator's next steps will depend entirely on the legal outcome of this appeal.
In a separate development, Kogan has firmly rejected suggestions of political influence over the regulator's actions. He stated that he would resign if he encountered any political interference in the handling of the Manchester City case. This stance comes as the IFR prepares to publish its landmark State of the Game report, which is expected to recommend greater cost controls for clubs.
The upcoming report, set to be released following an eight-week public consultation, will highlight that 94% of the top 116 clubs in English men's football are loss-making. While the report focuses on broader financial sustainability, the Manchester City appeal remains a central issue for the regulator. Kogan and IFR chief executive Richard Monks are scheduled to provide further details at a press conference in Manchester, where questions regarding the potential expulsion or forced sale of the club if the guilty verdicts are upheld are expected to dominate.