Some Premier League clubs are concerned that political intervention could influence Manchester City’s appeal after UK prime minister Andy Burnham appeared to play down the significance of the ruling against the club.
The clubs were reportedly “astonished” by comments from Burnham, who told the BBC he would be “extremely concerned” if Manchester City’s owners decided to sell the club after it was found to have breached the Premier League’s financial rules.
Manchester City was officially found guilty by the Premier League of 114 of the 115 charges brought against it over alleged financial breaches. The club continues to deny any wrongdoing.
According to the BBC, Burnham’s remarks have put the independent football regulator in a difficult position as it considers the wider implications of the case and the club’s appeal.
The prime minister has faced increasing scrutiny over his relationship with Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners during his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
That scrutiny intensified after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called on the Prime Minister’s Office to publish full details of meetings between Burnham and senior figures at the club.
Senior sources at Manchester City said they found the prime minister’s comments “extremely odd”. One source described them as “naive at best and highly manipulative at worst”, adding: “This is not a good look.”
Another source called the remarks “unfortunate”, while a further source said they were surprised that the prime minister had “misspoken”.
The independent commission that examined the charges held a hearing lasting 42 days in 2024. Its ruling was announced last month, although a separate hearing to determine any sanctions has yet to take place.
Manchester City’s appeal will be heard by a separate independent appeal commission. The club has maintained its denial of all wrongdoing throughout the process.
The concerns among Premier League clubs centre on whether comments from senior politicians could be seen as applying pressure during an ongoing legal process involving the league, Manchester City and the independent panels.