The Independent Regulator for English football (IFR) will possess “absolute power” to force Manchester City’s owners to sell if they are ultimately determined to have run the club improperly, according to the watchdog’s chair.
Manchester City, the current Premier League leaders, have been found guilty of over 100 charges for breaching Premier League financial rules between 2009 and 2018 by an independent commission. The club denies any wrongdoing and has appealed the verdict, facing potentially severe sanctions if the decision is upheld.
Since being acquired in 2008 by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who also serves as vice-president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, Manchester City has become a dominant force in English football.
David Kogan, the IFR’s chair, explained in an interview on “The Rest is Football” podcast, “We have the power to ask an owner to step away from a club if we believe that they run a club in a way that is neither fit, fair or done with propriety.” When questioned about whether an owner could refuse to divest, Kogan affirmed, “No. We’ve got absolute power to do so.”
Kogan also stated last week that he would resign if any political interference occurred in an investigation the IFR might conduct into City. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham faced criticism for his initial reaction to City’s guilty verdict, expressing concern about the club’s Abu Dhabi owners potentially leaving if the verdict stood. Downing Street later clarified that no one is “above the rules.”
Burnham, who served as the mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 until June 2026, has since disclosed all communications with Manchester City’s leadership. The situation presents a complex challenge for the UK government, requiring it to balance its established relationship with the Emirates and maintain the independence of the disciplinary proceedings against Manchester City.
