Brief
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham warns of impact if Manchester City loses Abu Dhabi owners
Burnham’s comments link the club’s ownership dispute to broader concerns about state‑linked football finance.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday he would be “really concerned to lose” Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owners, after the Premier League found the club guilty of more than 100 rule breaches.
What happened
The Premier League’s adjudication concluded that Manchester City used disguised sponsorship deals linked to state‑owned entities between the 2009‑10 and 2017‑18 seasons. The ruling triggered a ban on the club’s owners and a fine. Burnham, speaking in his new role as prime minister, reiterated his earlier comment that he was not directly involved, yet added the quoted concern.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that Burnham’s remarks have political dimensions, given his recent appointment as prime minister and the potential diplomatic fallout with the United Arab Emirates. The article also cites a leaked February 2022 email, published by Der Spiegel, showing City director Simon Pearce coordinating sponsorship funding with Etihad’s chief commercial officer Peter Baumgartner.
What was said
Burnham told the press, “Well, I would be really concerned to lose them,” referring to the Abu Dhabi United Group’s ownership of Manchester City.
How it came about
Earlier Felo coverage reported Burnham’s warning on 30 September, and Manchester City’s plan to appeal the ruling by the Friday deadline, arguing that the sponsorship money came from the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court rather than private funds.
Key facts
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would be "really concerned" if Manchester City lost its Abu Dhabi owners. (independent.co.uk)
- The Premier League found Manchester City guilty of more than 100 rule breaches involving disguised sponsorship deals. (independent.co.uk)
- A leaked email from February 2022 showed City director Simon Pearce coordinating sponsorship with Etihad’s Peter Baumgartner. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Why Andy Burnham has got it wrong on Man City’s Abu Dhabi owners”
