Manchester City has been found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial regulations, but Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has confirmed the United Kingdom Government will not interfere in the case
Andy Burnham will not get involved in Manchester City's case
Andy Burnham will not get involved in Manchester City's case(Image: Getty Images)
Lisa Nandy has confirmed that the United Kingdom Government will not intervene in any decisions relating to the Manchester City case following the club's guilty verdict on financial charges.
City was found guilty on all counts of breaching the Premier League's financial regulations and "the majority of charges" concerning its failure to co-operate with the league's investigation. The Etihad club has lodged an appeal and maintains that it holds a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" demonstrating its innocence. Liverpool is among the clubs waiting to find out whether City will be punished once the case finally concludes.
U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham raised eyebrows earlier this month when he declared he would be "really concerned" should City's Abu Dhabi owners withdraw following the commission's verdict, drawing attention to the potential for the case to have far-reaching consequences for diplomatic and trade relations between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
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According to talkSPORT, this has prompted considerable unease amongst Premier League clubs over the prospect of political meddling in the proceedings. Nevertheless, Nandy, who holds the position of Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has moved to quash fears of any governmental involvement in the matter.
"I want to be crystal clear that, whilst we are really grateful to investors who come from all over the world to invest in our clubs and help to ensure their viability and their success, they are custodians, both of their clubs and of the game," she told talkSPORT.
"They have a responsibility to play by the rules and uphold the rules.
Lisa Nandy has confirmed the Government's stance
Lisa Nandy has confirmed the Government's stance(Image: Getty Images)
"So, we will not, as a government, be involved in any decision-making around whether these allegations are upheld, it's for football to determine that because the integrity of the game is at stake. Once that has been determined, obviously, there is a role for government to manage any fallout from that. But the integrity of the game is not in question; it is not up for grabs.
"I've been very clear since I became Culture Secretary that people don't want to see politics in their game. They want the joy of the game, the love of the game, the excitement of the game, and they want to make sure that fans are at the heart of that process.
"That is the right and proper role governing, it's to protect that integrity and put the fans back at the heart of football where they belong. That's what we've done with the Football Governance Act and the Independent Regulator, and it's now for football to step up and make a determination in this case, and really meet this moment."
Nandy also confirmed that the newly formed Independent Football Regulator (IFR), tasked with protecting and overseeing English football, holds the power to remove owners should the need arise. She stated: "Obviously, there is an independent process currently running its course. Manchester City has appealed; there is an independent tribunal that the Premier League has established, which will hear that appeal.
"But once that tribunal concludes, if the allegations are upheld, the Independent Football Regulator can intervene, he can investigate the ownership and, at its most extreme, he can compel the owners if he believes they're not fit (to run) the club.
"We're not there yet, it's absolutely right that Manchester City get the right to defend themselves and they do strongly refute the allegations.
"But in the event that they do not believe that a club is in safe hands, we've fought tooth and nail to give the Independent Regulator the power (to remove the owners).
"I am not prepared to see other fans going through what we went through at Wigan, what the Bury fans went through, and so many others besides."