English football regulator wields power to force club owner sales

England's newly established football regulator possesses sweeping powers to force club owners to sell their stakes, the body's chair David Kogan said on Monday. The Independent Regulator of English Football (IREF) can enforce such measures as part of its mandate to oversee financial conduct in the Premier League and English football more broadly.

Kogan's comments come as Manchester City prepares to defend itself against accusations of breaching Premier League financial rules on 114 counts. The club has launched an appeal against the charges, which represent one of English football's most significant regulatory cases in recent years.

Once the Manchester City matter is resolved, Kogan indicated the regulator would be in a position to pursue its own independent investigations into clubs' compliance with financial regulations. The regulator's expanded authority marks a significant shift in English football governance, giving it tools previously unavailable to enforce standards across the sport.

The new regulatory framework was designed to strengthen financial oversight and protect the integrity of English football competition. Kogan's remarks signal the regulator's readiness to deploy its full range of enforcement mechanisms as it establishes its operational priorities.