Labour
His selection to head football’s new regulatory body risks sparking renewed accusations of favoritism after disclosing that he personally contributed to Sir Nick’s campaign funds.
Keir Starmer
and Lisa Nandy.
David Kogan, the government’s favored nominee to lead the oversight body, had earlier confessed to providing funds to the Prime Minister and
Culture Secretary
.
This morning, he informed MPs that he contributed financially to the Labour leadership bids of both Sir Keir and Ms Nandy in 2020 when they were competing to succeed the previous leader.
Jeremy Corbyn
.
Mr Kogan was already under scrutiny for allegations that favoritism contributed to his selection, owing to his status as a contributor to the Labour party.
Until April of this year, he served as a director at LabourList, a pro-Labour news site.
The
Tories
labeled the recent disclosure that Mr. Kogan aided in funding Sir Keir and Ms Nandy’s leadership bids as ‘shocking.’
They stated it was “a case of cronies prioritizing clubs over genuine supporters, and favors overshadowing fan interests,” and called for an investigation into Mr. Kogan regarding possible violations of regulations concerning public appointments.
However, Mr Kogan stated that he maintained complete personal autonomy from the Labour figures to whom he had formerly contributed, and he asserted that the soccer regulatory body would operate independently of the government.
Appearing before the House of Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Mr Kogan said there had been ‘accurate and wholly inaccurate’ reports about his Labour links.
‘They haven’t actually discovered all that I have done as a donor,’ he added.
‘So I am prepared to declare now, on the public record, that five years ago I contributed very small sums of money to both the leadership campaigns for the Labour Party of both Keir Starmer and of Lisa Nandy.
‘I am pleased to announce that this has not yet been uncovered by the media.’
However, I made those donations—I donated to specific parliamentary candidates who weren’t Members of Parliament—with the conviction that having a leadership contest within the Labour Party featuring two experienced contenders was beneficial rather than detrimental.
And with the conviction that you genuinely wish to have competent parliamentary candidates to occupy excellent parliamentary positions.
I’ve never had a particularly close relationship with anyone to whom I’ve made donations.
‘Thus, I enjoy complete individual autonomy from everyone involved. Additionally, I believe the regulatory body ensures this independence.’
In response to Mr Kogan’s comments, Tory MP Louie French, the shadow sports minister, said the Conservatives ‘can not support the idea of a new football regulator when it is clearly a political appointment by the Government’.
‘Politics and football should not mix when it comes to governance,’ he added.
We are firm that football should remain separate from governmental influence. Clearly, this situation demonstrates cronyism overshadowing club interests and personal favors prioritized over fan support.
We will not back the Labour Government in tarnishing the reputation of English football.
Mr French stated that Mr Kogan’s disclosures today “seem to clearly violate the Governance Code on Public Appointments and necessitate an immediate investigation.”
He stated: “Failing to disclose an individual’s significant personal political contributions to Keir Starmer before appointing them—a prominent benefactor and ex-director of Labour List—to lead the autonomous football governing body is a grave violation of public confidence.”
‘The fans anticipated having an unbiased and autonomous overseer, yet what they’re getting is someone chosen politically, whose neutrality has already been called into doubt.’
‘Therefore, with new leadership, the Conservatives will not support Labour’s Football Governance Bill.’
Mr Kogan was announced as Ms Nandy’s chosen candidate to lead the oversight body on April 25.
Throughout his 45-year career as a media executive, business leader, and corporate advisor, he has provided counsel to the Premier League, the EFL, and various other leagues regarding broadcast rights agreements.
The primary responsibility of the regulatory body will be to manage a licensing system for clubs within the first five levels of English football. This focus will largely center around ensuring these teams’ fiscal stability and transparency towards their supporters.
The bill that provides statutory support for the regulator – known as the Football Governance Bill – is moving forward in Parliament.
The regulator will be granted ‘backup’ authority to enforce terms for dividing television revenue between the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL) if the two organizations fail to reach an agreement independently. This could potentially encompass considerations around so-called “parachute payments” provided to teams that have been relegated from the top division.
Discussions regarding a proposed ‘New Deal’ for the EFL have essentially been stalled for over a year now.
A fan-led review of football was promised in the Conservatives’ 2019 election manifesto, months after Bury’s collapse.
In 2021, following the European Super League controversy, the succeeding Conservative administration initiated a review led by ex-Sports Minister Tracey Crouch.
The creation of an independent regulator was the key recommendation of that review, and the Labour Government has continued the work to make it a reality following its general election landslide last summer.
The Premier League is keen for the regulator to remain light touch, amid concerns over-regulation could damage the competition’s growth and deter investment.
The EFL is supportive of the regulator, and believes the ‘State of the Game’ review it is expected to undertake early on can be crucial in rebalancing football’s finances, which it feels must be addressed.
Ms Nandy rejected cronyism claims over Mr Kogan’s appointment during the Football Governance Bill’s second reading on April 28, and pointed out the previous Tory government had also targeted him for the role prior to last summer’s general election.
Read more
Leave a Reply