Downing Street have confirmed their position on the Manchester City charges case after controversial comments from Prime Minister Andy Burnham
Downing Street have released a new statement after comments from Andy Burnham earlier this week caused controversy
Downing Street have released a new statement after comments from Andy Burnham earlier this week caused controversy (Image: (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images))
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A new statement from Downing Street has been issued on Manchester City's guilty verdict. Prime Minister Andy Burnham admitted earlier this week that he was “really concerned” City’s owners would sell, having been “a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester”.
The latest official line from No.10 was very different, however, as they insisted no one is "above the rules" and that if still found guilty after the appeal the "should face the appropriate consequences.“
Their full statement, via a spokesperson, read: “As the Prime Minister made clear, the initial judgement is serious and there can’t be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules. He also stressed that it is an ongoing independent process.
"It is essential that it is allowed to run its course and the outcome respected. If wrongdoing is established, those responsible should face the appropriate consequences.“
The tone of this statement was particularly different to how Burnham reacted when asked if the owners of City selling the club would concern him.
He told the BBC: "I would be really concerned to lose them. They've been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester and obviously the building of Manchester City into the global force that it is."
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An independent panel had found the club guilty of 114 financial charges, as confirmed by the Premier League on Tuesday. The findings were particularly shocking with it stated that City had "arranged sham contracts" and subsequently cut their costs by roughly £900million.
The next step in this process - which technically started back in 2019 when the Premier League began their investigation - will be an appeal from City with the deadline to submit that this Friday.
Though the initial decision could be overturned, a sanctions hearing will still be taking place with potential punishments ranging from a fine to Premier League relegation.
Being demoted all the way down to League Two is possible even with the EFL as a separate body. They and the Premier League worked in tandem to impose a punishment for Leicester City with that channel now seemingly open.
City continue to protest their innocence and have reiterated that stance in multiple statements released since Friday, which was when the outcome first started appearing in media reports.
Other Premier League sides are in the process of planning to take legal action with Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham reserving the right to do so and potentially claim up to £200m in compensation.