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 contributed financially to current Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy during her bid for the leadership of the Labour Party in 2020.
Kogan’s professional background includes advising the Premier League and EFL on broadcast rights, as well as serving on the board of the Labour news platform, LabourList.
During a Commons select committee session, he disclosed that he had made “very small” donations to the leadership campaigns, which reportedly fell below the level requiring public disclosure.
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.”
