Keir Starmer says he is guilty of sticking the rubber that the appointment of the first head of the new football connections in the past.
Starmer expressed “Sincerory Serry” to Laurie Magnus, his independent adviser on administrative standards, about the appointment of David Kogan. This followed an apology to the prime minister by Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, who also received a donation from Kogan.
In a letter to Magnus published by Downing Street on Wednesday, Starmer said the decision to appoint Kogan – a media executive whose career has included negotiating TV rights deals for the Premier League and the English Football League – as chair of the independent football regulator was, under law, a decision for Nandy.
Given his interest in football, and the hospitality he received from football clubs and football partners, Starmer wrote to Mayus in May on the decisions related to the new regulation, which he said.
Read his letter: “In April 2025 a note was submitted to me announcing the process of joining, which is subject to the Culture Chaird of the Pre-Appointment Scrutiny of the Select Committee.
“I was asked in the note if I was satisfied that I was supported. I know that the decision noted that the decision I rejected is my sincere regret.”
The letter sets out how Kogan donated to Starmer’s successful campaign to run for the Labor leadership in 2020, and gave money to his constitution party.
In response, Magnus said that it was “regrettable” that the targeted starmer was asked by the rubber to set the appointment, but that he accepted a review of why it happened.
Magnus continued:
After the newsletter promotion
Nandy’s apology came A report by William Shawcrossthe Commissioner for public appointments, found that he had failed to say that Kogan had delivered something to the business leadership campaign and the Party before he was chosen for the role.
Kogan was confirmed last month as the head of football’s independent regulator, a fan-friendly wardog who proposed plans to strengthen Europe’s super league, and took advantage of the effort.
After the conflict of interest, Nandy emerged from any part of the decision whether to give him the role.