The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has announced that it possesses the authority to compel the owners of [Manchester City](https://www.mancity.com) to divest their stake should the club be found guilty of running the business improperly, granting the watchdog "absolute power" to act.
**What violations were identified?**
The Premier League’s independent commission concluded that City breached financial regulations on more than 100 occasions between 2009 and 2018. The findings relate to the club’s accounting practices, sponsorship arrangements and overall financial conduct.
**Has the club responded?**
Manchester City has lodged an appeal and maintains that it did nothing wrong. The team, which currently tops the Premier League table, faces a potentially severe sanction if the verdict is not overturned.
**Who leads the regulator and what powers does he claim?**
IFR chair David Kogan told the "The Rest is Football" podcast that the regulator can demand an owner step away from a club when the ownership is deemed “neither fit, fair nor done with propriety.” When asked whether an owner could refuse to sell, Kogan replied, “No. We’ve got absolute power to do so.” He also warned he would resign if any political interference affected an IFR investigation into the club.
**What is the government’s stance?**
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham initially expressed concern that the Abu Dhabi‑backed owners might abandon the club following the guilty verdict. Downing Street later clarified that no one is “above the rules.” Burnham, who served as mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 to June 2026, has since released all his communications with the club’s hierarchy.
**Why does this matter for UK‑UAE relations?**
The case puts the UK government in a delicate position, needing to preserve its long‑standing diplomatic and economic ties with the United Arab Emirates while ensuring the independence of the disciplinary process.
The IFR’s statement underscores the regulator’s willingness to enforce strict ownership standards, signalling that financial misconduct in English football could lead to drastic ownership changes.
*The Independent Football Regulator is the body tasked with overseeing the governance of football clubs in England, while the Premier League is the top tier of English football competition.*