Latest news with #DavidKogan
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
How a new law will shake up top tiers of men's football
The Football Governance Bill has passed the Commons and is set to become law, with MPs voting 415 to 98 in favour at its third reading. The Bill will establish an Independent Football Regulator for the top five tiers of men's football, tasked with ensuring clubs are run sustainably and are accountable to their fans. The new regulator will also have powers to impose a financial settlement between the English Football League and the Premier League if they cannot agree one themselves. MPs rejected proposals to consult on lifting the alcohol ban in football stands and to mandate free-to-air coverage for at least 10 Premier League matches annually. David Kogan is the Government's preferred candidate to chair the Independent Football Regulator, but is facing an inquiry over donations made to Labour figures.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Sport minister rejects calls to consult on alcohol ban in football stands
Calls from the Conservatives to consult on the 'two-tier' alcohol ban in football stands have been rejected by the sport minister. Stephanie Peacock said moves to reverse the prohibition, which has been in place since 1985, do not fall within the scope of the Football Governance Bill. MPs will have a say on the Tories' amendment to the Bill on Tuesday, if the party chooses to push it to a vote. The minister also stopped short of agreeing to financial support for ex-players who have suffered brain conditions caused by heading footballs, but said the Government is 'committed' to looking further at player welfare. Speaking in the Commons, Ms Peacock said the Bill's focus is on the 'financial sustainability of football clubs up and down the country'. The Bill would introduce an independent regulator for the top five tiers of the men's game to ensure clubs are run sustainably and are accountable to their fans. The regulator will also have 'backstop' powers to impose a financial settlement between the English Football League (EFL) and the Premier League if they cannot agree one themselves. David Kogan, a media rights expert, has been named as the Government's preferred candidate to chair the Independent Football Regulator in April, and his appointment was endorsed by a cross-party committee of MPs. But Mr Kogan faces an inquiry into his appointment following the revelation that he had donated money to both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, as well as other Labour figures. During the Bill's report stage, shadow sport minister Louie French accused the Government of 'appointing a Labour crony to be the new sheriff of football'. Intervening, Ms Nandy said then-minister Stuart Andrew had 'actively headhunted the individual in question and added him to the shortlist'. Mr French also urged the Government to scrap the 'legacy ban which sees fans rushing to drink their beer before kick-off and at half-time'. On new clause one, he said: 'The alcohol ban, which has been in place since 1985, was introduced to help curb hooliganism on the terraces during the problematic era of British football. 'But 40 years on, and with the modern game enjoying a more family-friendly atmosphere in stadiums across the country, clubs, fans and the Conservatives are urging the Government to consult on lifting the ban on alcohol. 'As football fans know, we have this legacy ban which sees fans rushing to drink their beer before kick-off and at half-time, this often leads to the fans being delayed entering the stadiums and overcrowding on the concourses. 'This is why we have listened to clubs and fans, especially those lower down the football pyramid, and are urging the Government to end the two-tier approach to football plans as part of their Football Governance Bill.' Responding, Ms Peacock said: 'This is outside the scope of the Bill, which is focused on sustainability of clubs and game overall. I've raised the issue with the Home Office, as I committed to do during the Bill committee, as it is their policy lead.' A number of MPs, including Labour's Chris Evans (Caerphilly) had tabled amendments to the Bill calling for greater support of past players who have developed neurodegenerative diseases as a result of heading footballs. Referring to the Liberal Democrats' amendment which called for a financial scheme to provide care, Ms Peacock said it is 'not within the tight regulatory scope of the Bill'. She told MPs: 'The Secretary of State and I recently met with a small group of affected families and ex-footballers, including individuals associated with Football Families for Justice (FFJ), to discuss player safety and welfare for those suffering with dementia. 'The Government is committed to looking further at this issue and supporting the families and football authorities to come together to address issues of lifelong consequences from concussion as well as post-career mental health and financial crises. 'I'm afraid this amendment is not within the tight regulatory scope of the Bill, although that does not mean the Government is not aware and very sympathetic to the calls that are being made on this issue, both in this House and for many former players and their families. 'This Bill is focused on the financial sustainability of football clubs up and down the country.' The Liberal Democrats had also tabled an amendment which proposed that at least 10 Premier League football matches should be made available on free-to-air television channels such as the BBC or ITV. The party's culture spokesperson Max Wilkinson said: 'If we are to get the next generation of fans involved, the easiest way to make sure that they are entertained and that they're engaging is by making football free-to-air.' Ms Peacock said: 'The Government believes that the current list of events works well, and it strikes an appropriate balance between access to sporting events and allowing sports to maximise broadcasting revenue. 'In domestic football, the present arrangements under the listed events regime have protected key moments such as the FA Cup final, while ensuring that the Premier League, the EFL, and the FA, are able to raise billions of pounds annually, which is invested back into the pyramid. 'We all want to see more matches being televised, free-to-air, but that must be balanced against investment and not risk it.'
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sport minister rejects calls to consult on alcohol ban in football stands
Calls from the Conservatives to consult on the 'two-tier' alcohol ban in football stands have been rejected by the sport minister. Stephanie Peacock said moves to reverse the prohibition, which has been in place since 1985, do not fall within the scope of the Football Governance Bill. MPs will have a say on the Tories' amendment to the Bill on Tuesday, if the party chooses to push it to a vote. The minister also stopped short of agreeing to financial support for ex-players who have suffered brain conditions caused by heading footballs, but said the Government is 'committed' to looking further at player welfare. Speaking in the Commons, Ms Peacock said the Bill's focus is on the 'financial sustainability of football clubs up and down the country'. The Bill would introduce an independent regulator for the top five tiers of the men's game to ensure clubs are run sustainably and are accountable to their fans. The regulator will also have 'backstop' powers to impose a financial settlement between the English Football League (EFL) and the Premier League if they cannot agree one themselves. David Kogan, a media rights expert, has been named as the Government's preferred candidate to chair the Independent Football Regulator in April, and his appointment was endorsed by a cross-party committee of MPs. But Mr Kogan faces an inquiry into his appointment following the revelation that he had donated money to both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, as well as other Labour figures. During the Bill's report stage, shadow sport minister Louie French accused the Government of 'appointing a Labour crony to be the new sheriff of football'. Intervening, Ms Nandy said then-minister Stuart Andrew had 'actively headhunted the individual in question and added him to the shortlist'. Mr French also urged the Government to scrap the 'legacy ban which sees fans rushing to drink their beer before kick-off and at half-time'. On new clause one, he said: 'The alcohol ban, which has been in place since 1985, was introduced to help curb hooliganism on the terraces during the problematic era of British football. 'But 40 years on, and with the modern game enjoying a more family-friendly atmosphere in stadiums across the country, clubs, fans and the Conservatives are urging the Government to consult on lifting the ban on alcohol. 'As football fans know, we have this legacy ban which sees fans rushing to drink their beer before kick-off and at half-time, this often leads to the fans being delayed entering the stadiums and overcrowding on the concourses. 'This is why we have listened to clubs and fans, especially those lower down the football pyramid, and are urging the Government to end the two-tier approach to football plans as part of their Football Governance Bill.' Responding, Ms Peacock said: 'This is outside the scope of the Bill, which is focused on sustainability of clubs and game overall. I've raised the issue with the Home Office, as I committed to do during the Bill committee, as it is their policy lead.' A number of MPs, including Labour's Chris Evans (Caerphilly) had tabled amendments to the Bill calling for greater support of past players who have developed neurodegenerative diseases as a result of heading footballs. Referring to the Liberal Democrats' amendment which called for a financial scheme to provide care, Ms Peacock said it is 'not within the tight regulatory scope of the Bill'. She told MPs: 'The Secretary of State and I recently met with a small group of affected families and ex-footballers, including individuals associated with Football Families for Justice (FFJ), to discuss player safety and welfare for those suffering with dementia. 'The Government is committed to looking further at this issue and supporting the families and football authorities to come together to address issues of lifelong consequences from concussion as well as post-career mental health and financial crises. 'I'm afraid this amendment is not within the tight regulatory scope of the Bill, although that does not mean the Government is not aware and very sympathetic to the calls that are being made on this issue, both in this House and for many former players and their families. 'This Bill is focused on the financial sustainability of football clubs up and down the country.' The Liberal Democrats had also tabled an amendment which proposed that at least 10 Premier League football matches should be made available on free-to-air television channels such as the BBC or ITV. The party's culture spokesperson Max Wilkinson said: 'If we are to get the next generation of fans involved, the easiest way to make sure that they are entertained and that they're engaging is by making football free-to-air.' Ms Peacock said: 'The Government believes that the current list of events works well, and it strikes an appropriate balance between access to sporting events and allowing sports to maximise broadcasting revenue. 'In domestic football, the present arrangements under the listed events regime have protected key moments such as the FA Cup final, while ensuring that the Premier League, the EFL, and the FA, are able to raise billions of pounds annually, which is invested back into the pyramid. 'We all want to see more matches being televised, free-to-air, but that must be balanced against investment and not risk it.'
The Independent
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Why is Labour's pick to be football regulator leading to cries of foul play?
L isa Nandy, secretary of state for culture, media and sport (DCMS), has decided to recuse herself from the final decision on the appointment of the first official football regulator, David Kogan, the government's preferred nominee. At a relatively late stage in proceedings, Kogan revealed in his confirmation hearing at the DCMS select committee that he had donated 'very small' amounts of money to both Keir Starmer and Nandy. This has led to allegations about a conflict of interest and, now, Nandy's unusual decision to stand aside from the decision-making process. Much more than the 'freebies scandal' in Labour's first days back in power, this is the most prominent case of anything like 'sleaze' or ' cronyism ' touching the Starmer administration. How did this happen? It's not entirely obvious. Had Kogan found a way to make his financial support for Starmer and Nandy clear at the earliest possible opportunity, then his embarrassment, and that of ministers, might have been avoided. Or perhaps Starmer and, more apposite, Nandy might have done so. Why didn't she? We don't know. Arguably, leaving it so late made it look like he had something to hide, but there's no reason to think that he's been given any special treatment by the Labour government. Indeed, Kogan was first 'tapped up' for the transfer by the Conservatives, who first proposed creating such a post. Who is David Kogan? He's well qualified to be the football regulator, to be fair. He's had a long career in the media, having worked for the likes of the BBC, Wasserman Media Group and Magnum Photos, and was later the chief media rights adviser to the Premier League between 1998 to 2015. He has also worked with the English Football League, the International Olympic Committee and the US National Football League. The select committee, despite their misgivings, saw fit to endorse his nomination. The committee chair, Caroline Dinenage, however, noted that: '[His] past donations to the Labour Party will inevitably leave him open to charges of political bias in a job where independence is paramount.' In response, Nandy delegated final approval of Kogan to Stephanie Peacock, a junior DCMS minister. How 'Labour' is Kogan? Very. As a young man, he was co-author of The Battle for the Labour Party (1982). The book, written alongside his uncle Maurice Kogan, is one of the best contemporary accounts of the party's traumas during the Thatcher ascendancy. He has made nine donations to the Labour Party, totalling some £33,000 since 2022, including a payment of £5,000 for Rachel Reeves's activities. He was also chair of LabourList until last month. What are the opposition parties doing about it? Making a small fuss. The Tory spokesperson, Louie French, says that it is a 'potential breach of the Governance Code on Public Appointments' that 'must urgently be investigated' and 'represents a clear discourtesy to both this House and the DCMS select committee'. What does it mean for Nandy? It's not ideal. A few months ago, she was rumoured to be up for the sack by Starmer for her performance, or else dropped if her sprawling department is dismantled in some future reshuffle. She's already been demoted by Starmer while in opposition; she was once shadow foreign secretary after finishing third in the 2020 leadership contest (also behind Rebecca Long-Bailey). Never on the hard left – she was Owen Smith's campaign manager for his futile bid to usurp then-leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2016 – the MP for Wigan has consistently acted as a bit of an advocate for the soft left/northern interests within the party. It's probably fair to conclude that she and her leader have gradually drifted away from one another. On the backbenches, she could easily become an informal leader of dissent and a bigger problem for the leadership than some in Downing Street seem to consider her now. Will Kogan get the job?
The Independent
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Inquiry launched into appointment of football regulator chairman
The man set to lead the new football regulator faces an inquiry into his appointment following accusations of 'cronyism' from the Conservatives. David Kogan, a media rights expert, was named as the Government's preferred candidate to chair the Independent Football Regulator in April, and his appointment was endorsed by a cross-party committee of MPs last month. But the revelation that he had donated money to both Sir Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy – as well as other Labour figures – drew complaints from the Conservatives and calls for the commissioner for public appointments to investigate. In a letter to the permanent secretary at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, commissioner Sir William Shawcross said he had carried out a series of 'spot checks' and now believed a full inquiry into Mr Kogan's appointment was 'necessary'. Sir William's inquiry will look into whether the rules on public appointments were followed, and is likely to involve interviews with both Mr Kogan and Ms Nandy. Mr Kogan was originally approached about the football regulator job by the Conservatives while they were still in office, and has advised the Premier League, EFL and other leagues on broadcast rights. He has also donated thousands of pounds to Labour MPs and candidates in recent years, and sat on the board of Labour news website LabourList. During his pre-appointment hearing with the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee – which later backed his appointment – he revealed he had also donated 'very small sums' to Sir Keir and Ms Nandy's leadership campaigns in 2020. Those donations had not previously been revealed as they were below the threshold for public declaration. A week later, Ms Nandy wrote to the committee to inform MPs that she had stepped back from making the final decision on whether to appoint Mr Kogan, delegating the choice to sport minister Stephanie Peacock. Stuart Andrew, the Conservative shadow culture secretary, said Mr Kogan's appointment 'bears all the hallmarks of yet more Labour cronyism', adding Ms Nandy's decision to step back 'highlights just how compromised this selection has become'. He said: 'Number 10 must now come clean about the involvement of the Downing Street appointments unit and special advisers in promoting David Kogan as the preferred candidate. 'The public has a right to know whether this was a fair and impartial process, or yet another case of political patronage disguised as due diligence.' Mr Kogan did not comment on the launch of the inquiry.
