Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he "would be really concerned" if Manchester City's owners looked to sell the club after it was found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules
Andy Burnham has been asked about Manchester City's guilty verdict
Andy Burnham has been asked about Manchester City's guilty verdict(Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said it would be wrong to "leap to judgment" about Manchester City and he is confident his dealings with the club while mayor of Greater Manchester stand up to scrutiny.
He said Man City, found guilty of charges related to breaches of financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18, should be able to "contest the situation if they don't think it's fair".
The Premier League said an independent commission found City arranged "sham" commercial deals with a number of its sponsors during the period, which were part of a disguised funding scheme, whereby those companies were only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees.
The commission found that the remainder was funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club.
Everton have paid the price for Man City's actions - now one thing must happen
The Prime Minister thanked City Football Group – the club's holding company – for the money it had invested into Manchester, and said he would be "really concerned to lose them" should they decide to sell up.
But Mr Burnham said he would "keep my distance" should the United Arab Emirates government make representations to him over the dispute.
He told 5 News: "I think it's only right that Manchester City and Manchester City supporters have that opportunity to continue to contest the situation if they don't think it's fair."
The Prime Minister campaigned against the decision to dock Everton Premier League points for financial rule breaches when he was mayor of Greater Manchester. The Blues had a 10-point deduction reduced to six on appeal in 2024.
Mr Burnham, an Everton supporter, told the broadcaster: "I think it's only right to say that it is still contested now.
"The Premier League proclaimed (Everton) guilty and I never accepted that and therefore it would be somewhat wrong of me to leap to judgment on another football club.
"But they're very serious charges, don't get me wrong."
He continued: "But I think it's only fair from my own experience fighting for my club that I take that position at this stage."
Andy Burnham looks on during the Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium on May 17, 2026
Andy Burnham looks on during the Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium on May 17, 2026(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Asked by the BBC if all his dealings with Man City while he was mayor will stand up to scrutiny, he said: "Oh indeed, I do actually thank the City Football Group and the wider ownership for the money that they didn't just put into the Etihad and the campus around it but also into the city, but yes of course."
Asked if he was worried about them selling the club, he said: "I would be really concerned to lose them. They've been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester.
"Obviously, the building of Manchester City into the global force that it is."
Asked if he would be willing to listen to the United Arab Emirates government about the matter, he told the BBC: "I am not getting directly involved in the process. I've not spoken to anybody directly about that.
"I have to keep my distance from it. It would be wrong for me to do anything else. It's an independent legal process that has to play its course through.
"...There's a lot at stake. Let's be honest about that, for the football club, for City supporters, for the city of Manchester."
The Prime Minister would not be drawn on whether he thinks Man City should be relegated from the league.
The club has said it intends to appeal "on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe".
The Premier League said that now the charges have been proved, the issue of sanction will be addressed separately in a further hearing with the independent commission.
Further "sham arrangements" the club was found to have entered into enabled them to record lower operating expenses than it actually incurred, the Premier League's published statement said.
The scheme was found to have inflated revenues and reduced costs by more than £900 million during the affected period.
The commission concluded: "By its conduct the club clearly intended to circumvent the Premier League rules".
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