The chairman of England’s Independent Football Regulator (IFR), David Kogan, said on Tuesday that he would resign if he faced political interference over the future of Manchester City.

Kogan, who has the authority to assess the suitability of football club owners and executives, stressed the regulator’s independence amid scrutiny about the Premier League club’s ownership.

An independent commission is considering allegations that Manchester City breached Premier League financial rules. If the findings are upheld, the IFR could be required to determine whether the club should be forced to change ownership.

Kogan was asked about Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s comments that he would be “really concerned” if Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owners decided to sell the club.

"We are independent. That is in the name. I am the chairman of the Independent Football Regulator and independence absolutely runs through everything we're doing,” said Kogan.

"And no politician has tried to influence and would try to influence anything we do on that,” he said, adding that he would resign in such a case.

An independent Premier League commission found Manchester City guilty of serious financial rule breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, including arranging "sham" contracts with commercial partners to artificially inflate revenue.

The club appealed the ruling, rejecting the allegations and maintaining innocence. Sanctions have yet to be determined. (AA)