LONDON, United Kingdom – The United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, issued a formal apology on Thursday, November 6, 2025, after an independent inquiry found she had breached the government's code on public appointments. The investigation, conducted by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, Sir William Shawcross, concluded that Nandy failed to properly declare a conflict of interest when she selected David Kogan, a media executive and political donor, as the government's preferred candidate to chair the new Independent Football Regulator (IFR).

In a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Nandy expressed her deep regret for the “unknowing” error, which has created another political embarrassment for the new Labour government. Starmer, in his reply, accepted the apology and Nandy's assurance that she acted in good faith, but noted that the appointment process “was not entirely up to the standard expected.”

Three Breaches Identified

Sir William Shawcross's 18-page report identified three distinct breaches of the Governance Code on Public Appointments. Firstly, Nandy failed to declare that Kogan had made two donations totalling £2,900 to her 2020 Labour leadership campaign. Secondly, the potential conflict of interest arising from these donations was not discussed with Kogan during his interview for the role. Finally, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport did not publicly disclose Kogan's wider political activities, which included donations of £33,410 by him and his company to the Labour Party and its candidates over the past five years.

While Sir William accepted that Nandy's breach was “unknowing,” he stated that given Kogan's known links to the Labour party, she “ought to have considered and ascertained whether he had made donations to her.” Following the revelation of the donations, Nandy recused herself from the final decision-making process regarding the appointment. Despite the controversy, Kogan's appointment as chair of the IFR has been confirmed and is not affected by the report's findings.

The Independent Football Regulator: A New Era for English Football

The Independent Football Regulator is a new statutory body established by the Football Governance Act 2025 to oversee the top five tiers of men's English football. Its creation was a key recommendation of a fan-led review, prompted by the financial collapse of several clubs and the controversial, short-lived proposal for a European Super League in 2021. The IFR's primary objectives are to ensure clubs are financially sustainable, run responsibly, and that their heritage is protected. It will operate a licensing system and has the power to vet owners and directors, prevent clubs from joining breakaway leagues, and even impose financial penalties of up to 10% of a club's revenue for non-compliance.

A Case Study for Kenyan Sports Governance

While the events unfolded in London, the principles at the heart of the controversy resonate powerfully within Kenya. For years, Kenyan football has been marred by persistent allegations of mismanagement, corruption, and a lack of transparency within its governing bodies. Leadership wrangles within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have, at times, led to international sanctions and stifled the growth of the sport locally. The UK incident underscores the critical importance of robust, independent, and transparent processes in appointing individuals to powerful regulatory roles in sport. It highlights how even the perception of a conflict of interest can undermine public trust in the integrity of sports administration. As Kenya continues its own efforts to reform sports governance, the Nandy-Kogan affair serves as a timely international case study on the necessity of adhering to the highest ethical standards to safeguard the future of the beautiful game.

The episode is the second ethics-related issue to confront Prime Minister Starmer's government in recent weeks, following an apology from Chancellor Rachel Reeves for failing to obtain a proper license before renting out her home. The opposition Conservative Party has labelled the appointment an example of “Labour cronyism” and called for it to be withdrawn, a demand the government has rejected.