Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has apologised for his role in the appointment of Labour donor David Kogan as the first chair of the Independent Football Regulator, admitting a “mistake” in the process. In a letter to his independent adviser on ministerial standards, Laurie Magnus, Starmer expressed “sincere regret” for confirming the appointment despite having recused himself from decisions related to the regulator due to his football interests.
The controversy emerged after it was revealed that Kogan, a media executive who previously negotiated TV rights for the Premier League, had donated to Starmer’s 2020 Labour leadership campaign and his constituency party. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who also received donations from Kogan, had already apologised for failing to disclose the contributions before nominating him for the role.
Starmer’s letter, published by Downing Street on Wednesday, detailed that in April 2025 a note was submitted to him informing him of Nandy’s decision to appoint Kogan, subject to pre-appointment scrutiny. Starmer confirmed he was supportive, but later acknowledged it would have been better if he had not been asked to rubber-stamp the decision, which was legally Nandy’s alone.
Magnus described the situation as “regrettable” but welcomed a review into how the error occurred, adding that Starmer’s disclosure demonstrated a commitment to transparency. The appointment was confirmed last month, despite Labour’s previous plans to establish the regulator as a fan-friendly watchdog following the collapse of the European Super League.
