Latest news with #footballregulator
The Independent
2 days ago
- 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?
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Lisa Nandy to be quizzed on football regulator after accusations of cronyism
Kogan, a media executive nominated as the first chair of the new football regulator in April, told MPs last month that he had made 'very small' contributions both to Nandy and Sir Keir Starmer's 2020 Labour leadership campaigns. The admission reignited the row over 'crony' appointments by the party, which was accused by the Conservatives of breaching transparency rules. A DCMS spokesperson said: 'We have received the letter from the commissioner for public appointments and we look forward to cooperating fully with his office. The appointment is in the process of being ratified in the usual way.' Kogan appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport select committee on May 7 after being named by Nandy as the Government's preferred choice to lead the new body. '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 of both Sir Keir Starmer and of Lisa Nandy,' he said, after reports he also donated £75,000 to Labour MPs. 'That hasn't been discovered by the press and I am happy to declare it now,' he said, insisting he had 'total personal independence from all of them', and had 'never actually been particularly close to any of the individuals to whom I have donated money'. He told MPs: 'I'm not really susceptible to any pressure, including political pressure, and the so-called ties to the Labour Party are, in fact, far less than have appeared in the public press. 'I don't believe that I have undermined that [independence] by writing books about the Labour Party, being on the LabourList board or being a donor, but clearly that's a judgment call that others may need to make, rather than myself.' Kogan added that he had 'never had a one-on-one meeting' with Starmer and had not met him since he became Prime Minister, but recognised there was 'a perception of bias'. The donations to Starmer and Nandy's leadership campaigns are understood to have been below the threshold for public declaration. A source told Telegraph Sport they were each less than £3,000. 'Fans promised impartiality but are being handed political appointee' But Louie French, the shadow sports minister, said the failure to disclose those donations publicly when Kogan was put forward for the role was 'a clear breach of the governance code on public appointments' and called for an investigation. He said: 'The decision to install David Kogan – a major Labour Party donor and former director of LabourList – as chair of the Independent Football Regulator, without disclosing his extensive personal political donations to Keir Starmer, is a serious breach of public trust. 'Fans were promised an impartial and independent regulator, but instead they are being handed a political appointee whose impartiality is already in question.' The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Kogan's appointment had been 'made as a result of fair and open competition' and run 'in accordance with the Government's code on public appointments'. The spokesman repeated that all rules had been followed when asked whether Nandy or Starmer had declared the donations from Kogan during the appointment process. He said: 'The declaration process as set out by the rules has obviously been followed. The process for appointing him to the role has been followed and will continue to be followed.' Stuart Andrew, shadow culture secretary, said: 'This appointment bears all the hallmarks of yet more Labour cronyism. After significant public pressure, Lisa Nandy has belatedly stepped aside from the process, a necessary move that highlights just how compromised this selection has become. 'No 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. The decision to launch an inquiry is welcome.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Lisa Nandy removes herself from final decision on leader of football regulator
Lisa Nandy has removed herself from the final decision over who will lead the new football regulator, after it emerged the preferred candidate had donated to the culture secretary's Labour leadership campaign. David Kogan, a media executive who was nominated by the government as chair of the independent football regulator earlier this year, revealed last month that he had given money to Nandy during her bid to succeed Jeremy Corbyn in 2020. He also gave money to Keir Starmer's campaign. Kogan, who volunteered the information during the approval process for the football regulator job, said the contributions were 'very small'. They did not need to be declared publicly under political donation rules. However, Nandy has now opted to stand aside from giving final approval to Kogan's appointment. She has written to the culture, media and sport select committee to inform them of her decision, which she said was designed to 'avoid the perception of any bias or lack of independence from government'. 'As a first step to avoid any risk of this, I am writing to inform you that I have delegated the final decision on the chair's appointment,' she wrote. The final decision will be signed off by Stephanie Peacock, a junior culture minister. It shows Labour's sensitivity over allegations of cronyism, after Starmer and other senior figures were criticised over their acceptance of gifts at the start of the new government last year. They have since vowed to stop accepting such gifts. Starmer ultimately paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality received since becoming prime minister, including six Taylor Swift tickets, four tickets to the races and a clothing rental agreement with a designer. One significant Labour donor, the peer Waheed Alli, was briefly given a Downing Street pass. Kogan declared the donations to Nandy and Starmer as he appeared before the culture committee last month. He said he had 'total personal independence' from both of them, adding he was never 'particularly close' to any of the politicians to whom he had donated money. 'I don't believe that I have undermined that by writing books about the Labour party, being on the [political website] LabourList board or being a donor, but clearly that's a judgment call that others may need to make,' he told MPs at the time. Max Wilkinson, the Liberal Democrat culture spokesperson, said Nandy should reveal the extent of her dealings with Kogan. 'After so many years of dodgy dealing by the Conservatives, people rightly demanded a fresh start under Labour,' he said. 'The culture secretary should set the record straight, so parliament can get on with bringing in the much-needed new independent football regulator.' Stuart Andrew, the shadow culture secretary, said the appointment 'bears all the hallmarks of Labour cronyism'. 'After public pressure Lisa Nandy has finally excused herself from this decision,' he said. 'The prime minister should have done the same to his permanent secretary. It is a clear conflict of interest for him and his constituency association to have taken money from a political donor, and then be involved in parachuting that individual as an independent regulator. 'No 10 need to come clean on the role of the Downing Street appointments team and special advisers in putting forward David Kogan as the preferred candidate.' Kogan has significant experience in the world of football finance after more than two decades negotiating TV rights sales. However, the Guardian has previously reported that ministers were reluctant to appoint him because of the perception that it was a political appointment. The prime minister's official spokesperson has said Kogan's selection was made 'as a result of fair and open competition' and in accordance with the code of conduct on public appointments.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
UK government faces inquiry into appointment of new independent football regulator chair
The UK government faces a 'full inquiry' into the handling of its proposed appointment of the new chairman of the independent football regulator, David Kogan. Focus will fall on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which received an email addressed to Permanent Secretary, Susannah Storey last Thursday (May 29) from the Commissioner for Public Appointments, William Shawcross, who is likely to interview both Kogan and the secretary of state, Lisa Nandy, during his investigations. Advertisement Shawcross decided to proceed with an inquiry after initial 'spot checks' raised unspecified concerns about the process. Kogan, 67, was not on the initial three-person shortlist for the role but was recommended by Nandy after more than two decades negotiating TV rights sales on behalf of the Premier League, English Football League (EFL) and Women's Super League. Nandy named Kogan as her choice to chair the regulator in April and on May 9 he was revealed as the preferred candidate, with a report from the DCMS 'recognising his vast experience in the football and media sectors'. Shawcross, 79, was appointed to his role in 2021 following a long career in broadcasting and writing, which included a biography of media magnate Rupert Murdoch. It is his responsibility to provide independent assurance that public hires are made in accordance with a governance code that include principles such as integrity, merit, openness, diversity and fairness. Once the inquiry has been completed, Shawcross will advise whether the appointment process has followed certain guidelines. He does not have the power to decide what happens next but his findings will influence the credibility of any government decision about how it proceeds. A DCMS spokesperson said: 'We have received the letter from the Commissioner for Public Appointments and we look forward to co-operating fully with his office. The appointment is in the process of being ratified in the usual way.' Kogan started his career as a journalist and set up a media advisory company called Reel Enterprises in 1997, and this became the go-to advisor for any league or governing body trying to maximise the value of its broadcast rights. He sold Reel Enterprises to media company Wasserman in 2011 but has continued to work with clients including the English Football League, International Olympic Committee, Premier League and the NFL on their rights auctions, as well as advising companies such as CNN and the New York Times on their digital strategies. Advertisement Since 2022, Kogan has made nine donations to Labour candidates and the party itself, totalling more than £33,000. He has also written two books about the party's history. Kogan also applied for the role of independent football regulator chair in 2024 when the Conservative government attempted to get its version of the Football Governance Bill through parliament. However, Rishi Sunak called an election in the summer and the Conservatives ran out of time to pass the legislation while in office. A fan-led review called for the introduction of a regulator in November 2021 in the wake of the failed European Super League proposals, and the government announced plans to create one in February 2023. It will be tasked with ensuring the financial stability and sustainability of professional football in England, and will be independent from the government and football authorities.
Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Regulator is still bad idea but at least this one knows how football works
The 39th game. Everyone hated that. Hated it, and saw it off. The public reaction to Richard Scudamore's proposal to play an extra league match abroad, for the money, was so negative the idea has never resurfaced. We know some owners would entertain it, though, because Liverpool's chairman, Tom Werner, said his dream was to stage Premier League matches around the world. And he won't be alone. This is why, in the football regulator bill, there is a clause covering the issue. Clubs must seek the regulator's permission, it says, 'to move home games elsewhere'. That's not strong enough, apparently. Amendments have been proposed specifically to prevent games from being taken abroad. And, at first glance, it's a populist tap into an empty net. Isn't
