Regulator 'will resign' if any political interference in Man City case / Photo: © AFP/File
Regulator 'will resign' if any political interference in Man City case
The chair of English football's Independent Regulator has said he will resign if there is political interference into any future investigation into Manchester City as a result of widespread impropriety, while warning the domestic game was "on the edge of financial disaster".
City have been found guilty on over 100 charges of breaking Premier League financial rules by an independent commission.
The club have appealed and deny any wrongdoing, but face a severe sanction unless they overturn the verdict.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has come under criticism for his comments saying he would be "really concerned" if City's Abu Dhabi owners left the club following the verdict.
Downing Street subsequently had to backtrack, insisting no one was "above the rules".
Burnham, who was mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 to June 2026, has since published all of his dealings with the City hierarchy.
But the case poses a delicate balancing act for the UK government in preserving its longstanding ties with the Emirates without interfering in the independence of the disciplinary action against City.
The club's owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, is vice-president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates.
The Football Regulator has the power to disqualify and remove club owners and senior executives and force the sale of clubs.
"Our independence is absolute, and my independence personally is absolute," Independent Regulator chair David Kogan said on Tuesday.
"I made it very clear in an interview last year that if we (experience) any form of political interference on the way we operate it is going to result in my resigning from this role, and I stand by that completely."
Kogan has also warned that the English game is on the "edge of financial disaster" despite booming revenues.
The Regulator's first "State of the Game" report found that while English football generated £9 billion ($12 billion) in revenue last season, 94 percent of clubs in the top five divisions were loss-making.
Thirty-two clubs could not survive more than 30 days without owner funding, while 17 would make a loss even if their players played for free.
Kogan added English club football was simultaneously the "richest, best and most deeply competitive in the world while also standing on the edge of financial disaster",
The report forecasts total debt in English football would rise above £5 billion by the end of this season and that net transfer debt was approximately £3.4 billion.
"Everyone needs to take into account the fact that nothing is ever forever," said Kogan.
"At the moment, the sun is shining. There's £9 billion a year coming in.
"This is the very moment to address the issues of liquidity and losses and debt, before suddenly you see the money going backwards and it's too late."
O.al-Khatib--BT
