Football regulator’s reputation rests on its handling of Manchester City Sport Business The Independent Football Regulator has improving English clubs’ failing finances in its sights but its treatment of Manchester City is what will likely define it, writes Ed Warner. What word or phrase to you best describes the state of English football? Would broken, bust or (morally and/or financially) bankrupt fit your bill? A tad sensational, [...]
Football regulator warns Burnham: I’ll quit if ministers meddle in Manchester City Sport Business Football regulator boss David Kogan has vowed to quit if prevented from punishing Manchester City’s owners — and is ready to ask government for extra cash to fight any legal challenge from Abu Dhabi. The Independent Football Regulator has the power to disqualify City’s owners and force Sheikh Mansour to sell up following the club’s [...]
Hull City’s ‘strange’ £55m loan beat Independent Football Regulator deadline Sport Business Hull City took a loan from an American billionaire whose previous hedge fund was fined $1.8bn for fraud and insider trading shortly before mandatory Independent Football Regulator scrutiny of such deals kicked in. Following their promotion to the Premier League, Hull City secured a £55m loan against the club’s stadium from Point72 Lending Ltd, a [...]
Celtic and when does financial prudence become sporting underinvestment? September 17, 2026 By most conventional measures, Celtic should be a model of how to run a football club. According to the club’s latest accounts, Celtic generated £143.6m of revenue and £33.9m of profit after tax, while finishing the year with £77.3m in cash. Shareholders have benefited too. According to FactSet, Celtic shares have appreciated approximately 153 per [...]
English Football League ‘concerned and disappointed’ at PFA legal challenge August 11, 2026 The English Football League (EFL) has criticised player union the PFA for taking legal action to block new cost controls for clubs in League One. The PFA is opposing the Squad Cost Management Protocol on the basis it could damage players’ earning potential, having previously defeated a previous rule change in 2021 on the basis [...]
Premier League agree EFL funding deal which could be worth £1.5bn July 30, 2026 Premier League clubs have agreed for a new funding proposal to be put to the EFL, which could be worth £1.5bn. The agreement was decided upon on Thursday and was unanimous, with the Premier League stating that the deal is “long-term”, according to PA. Sky Sports previously said the deal will cover the next decade. [...]
Premier League and EFL set for summit with Football Regulator over new financial deal July 28, 2026 An end to one of the longest-running saga plaguing English football could be in sight after the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) stepped up talks over a blockbuster new financial redistribution deal. Premier League CEO Richard Masters and chair Alison Brittain and their EFL counterparts Trevor Birch and Rick Parry are expected to [...]
Football ‘muddling through’ in face of growing ‘tensions’, says Boston Consulting Group July 15, 2026 Football is in danger of eating itself unless the sport comes together to address growing inequalities, a consultancy hired by the Independent Football Regulator has warned. Boston Consulting Group, which has worked with the IFR to produce the State of the Game report that will shape the regulator’s approach to English football, has today published [...]
West Ham sponsor Boyle Sports ‘extremely concerned’ by David Sullivan allegations June 10, 2026 West Ham United sponsor Boyle Sports has expressed its serious concern at the allegations made against the club’s majority owner David Sullivan. Reporting by the BBC and The Times this week focused on claims that Sullivan had exploited his position as a publisher to pressure young women into sexual activity. Sullivan, 77, has strongly denied [...]
Manchester City: Sheikh Mansour faces calls for ban from English football over UAE links to genocide April 17, 2026 Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour could be barred from the Premier League if the UK government heeds calls to sanction him over alleged links to genocide in Sudan. Human rights group FairSquare has called on the government to investigate the man who has led Manchester City’s transformation into one of the world’s richest and most [...]