According to The Independent, David Kogan, chairman of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), has made it clear that the regulator would have the power to force Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour to sell the club if the verdict finding the club guilty of breaching Premier League rules is ultimately upheld.

Kogan stressed that club owners would not be able to refuse to comply with such an order. However, the regulator has not yet decided whether to take any action against Manchester City.

Previously, an independent commission found that Manchester City had inflated revenues or understated costs through fictitious commercial arrangements over nine consecutive seasons, involving more than £900 million. The commission also found that the club had repeatedly engaged in coordinated efforts to obstruct and interfere with the Premier League's investigation into the commercial arrangements. Manchester City have appealed against the ruling.

Speaking on the podcast The Rest Is Football, Kogan said it was too early to discuss the measures the regulator might take, but confirmed that it would have the authority to require Manchester City's owner to sell the club if necessary.

"If we believe that the way an owner is running a club does not meet the standards of suitability and propriety, then we have the power to require them to exit the club," Kogan said.

When asked whether a club owner could refuse to sell, Kogan gave a firm response: "No, no, no. We have absolute powers to enforce that decision."

Asked whether the Independent Football Regulator would launch an investigation into Manchester City, Kogan said he would not prejudge the matter before all the relevant questions had been fully addressed.

"After that, we will have to decide whether to launch our own investigation and, following that investigation, reach a conclusion on what action should be taken. It would be an extremely serious mistake to prejudge the outcome at this stage," Kogan said.

Kogan had previously pledged to resign as chairman if the Independent Football Regulator faced any political interference during a future investigation into Manchester City. There have been concerns that the case could develop into a diplomatic issue between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

This season, Manchester City have won their opening seven Premier League matches and currently sit at the top of the table, three points ahead of defending champions Arsenal.

It is important to note that Manchester City have appealed against the relevant ruling, and the final outcome remains undecided. Kogan's comments indicate that, if the guilty verdict is ultimately upheld, the club's owner could face an order to sell Manchester City. However, the regulator has yet to decide whether to launch an investigation or take any specific action.