UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing increasing scrutiny over comments he made about Manchester City following the club’s conviction for breaching Premier League financial regulations.
According to BBC Sport, several Premier League clubs have reportedly raised concerns about Burnham’s remarks, with senior figures questioning whether they could create an impression of political involvement in an independent disciplinary process.
Burnham told the BBC he would be “really concerned” if Manchester City’s owners chose to sell the club following the verdict. His comments reportedly surprised officials at rival clubs, who questioned the reasoning behind his intervention.
Downing Street has since clarified that the prime minister believes nobody should be “above the rules”.
However, scrutiny has continued because Manchester City’s appeal against the findings has yet to be heard.
The case followed a 42-day hearing by an independent commission in 2024. The commission found City guilty of multiple financial-rule breaches, with a separate hearing still required to determine any sanctions.
Manchester City has consistently denied wrongdoing and is expected to challenge the verdict before an independent appeal board.
The controversy has also revived questions about Burnham’s relationship with the club’s Abu Dhabi ownership during his tenure as mayor of Greater Manchester.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for details of meetings between Burnham and senior figures linked to Manchester City to be made public.
Some Premier League officials described Burnham’s comments as “absolutely bizarre”, while others labelled them “clumsy” and questioned whether the prime minister had simply misspoken.
The Premier League has maintained that its disciplinary process is independent, with City’s appeal and any eventual sanctions to be decided through the established procedures.
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