Calls for probe into man set to lead new football regulator over donations to Labour figures

THE man set to lead the new football regulator must be probed over his donations to Labour figures, the Tories insist. 

Media chief David Kogan also donated cash to current Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy when she also put herself forward for the top Labour job back in 2020. 

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David Kogan, the man set to lead the new football regulator, must be probed over his donations to Labour figures, the Tories insist[/caption]

PA

Media chief Kogan has spent his career advising the Premier League and EFL on broadcast rights[/caption]

Kogan’s career has been spent advising the Premier League and EFL on broadcast rights as well as sitting on the board of Labour news website LabourList. 

He revealed to a Commons select committee that he had donated “very small sums” to the leadership campaigns which are understood to have been below the threshold for public declaration. 

But he insisted he had “total personal independence from all of them” insisting he had “never actually been particularly close to any of the individuals to whom I have donated money”. 

Mr Kogan claimed he had “never had a one-on-one meeting” with Sir Keir Starmer and the pair hadn’t met since he became PM but recognised there was “a perception of bias”. 

Shadow Sports Minister Louie French said the failure to disclose those donations publicly when Mr Kogan was put forward for the role was “a clear breach of the governance code on public appointments” and called for an investigation. 

“Fans were promised an impartial and independent regulator, but instead they are being handed a political appointee whose impartiality is already in question.” 

Number 10 said Mr 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 added: “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.”