Kogan puts City ownership suitability in spotlight

Independent Football Regulator (IFR) chair David Kogan has warned that Manchester City’s financial rules verdict could have implications for their owners and executives, highlighting statutory powers that extend beyond the Premier League’s disciplinary process.The independent commission found that City deliberately circumvented financial rules by inflating revenue and concealing costs over nine seasons, although the club reject the findings and have announced their intention to appeal.Kogan said: “The independent commission’s decision raises serious issues. The IFR has powers to assess the suitability of owners, directors and executives and we will use these powers where appropriate, in the interests of protecting the sustainability, honesty and integrity of English football where there is clear evidence of wrongdoing by individuals.“This includes taking account of findings made by the leagues. However, as the proceedings remain ongoing between Manchester City and the Premier League we will await further developments.“We hope it can be resolved quickly for the sake of fans. For now, we have no further comment.”His statement introduces a potential ownership and governance consequence alongside any sporting or financial sanctions arising from the league proceedings, while stopping short of announcing an investigation or action against any named individual.In the most extreme circumstances, the regulator has statutory powers to remove unsuitable directors and executives and compel owners to divest their interests, making individual responsibility a separate consideration from punishment imposed on a club.Kogan’s reference to clear evidence of wrongdoing by individuals is significant because a finding against City does not itself establish that every owner, director or executive is unsuitable, with any regulatory decision requiring consideration of the people concerned.The commission concluded that City had used arrangements to inflate revenue and conceal costs amounting to more than £900m, enabling them to avoid breaches of Premier League and UEFA financial rules.City maintain that the decision contains material errors of law, principle and fact, describing it as unsafe and confirming that they intend to pursue the available appeal process.The IFR’s immediate position remains to await developments in the ongoing proceedings, with Kogan making clear that league findings can inform suitability assessments without announcing any decision to exercise those powers against City’s leadership.