Regulator's Power Play: Manchester City Could Face Forced Sale

Chairman David Kogan has made it clear that the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) possesses the authority to compel Manchester City's owners to sell the club if it’s determined they operated improperly. An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of breaching Premier League rules, alleging they created phony commercial agreements to inflate revenue or cut costs by over £900 million over a period of nine seasons. Additionally, the commission accused the club of actively trying to obstruct the Premier League's investigation into these dubious arrangements. In response, City has filed an appeal, asserting that the verdict is fraught with significant legal and factual errors and is therefore unsafe. Speaking on the podcast The Rest Is Football, Kogan stated it would be premature to discuss any potential actions from the IFR while the appeal is pending. However, he did confirm that the regulator has the “absolute power” to demand the club's owner, Sheikh Mansour, to step aside if deemed necessary. "We can ask an owner to leave if we believe their management of the club is not fit, fair, or proper," Kogan explained. When pressed about an owner's ability to refuse such a request, he firmly stated, "No, no, no. We’ve got absolute power to do so." Regarding the possibility of the IFR launching its own investigation into Manchester City, Kogan emphasized the importance of waiting until all questions have been addressed before making any judgments. "Pre-empting that would be a colossal mistake," he remarked. Kogan has also promised to resign if any political interference occurs in the investigation, recognizing the potential for diplomatic strain between the UK and the UAE.