UK PM Burnham 'Really Concerned' if Manchester City Owners Leave - Tempo.co English

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would be “really concerned” if Manchester City’s owners sold the club following an independent commission’s finding that the club breached more than 100 Premier League rules.

Burnham praised City’s owners for their investment in Manchester, saying the City Football Group and its wider ownership had been a "huge partner" in the development of the city and the football club.

"I would be really concerned to lose them," Burnham said, as quoted by The Guardian.

"They’ve been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester, and the building of Manchester City into the global force that it is."

"I do actually thank the City Football Group and the wider ownership for the money that they didn’t just put into the Etihad [Stadium] and the campus around it but also into the city."

Burnham said he would not intervene in the Premier League’s disciplinary process, despite the potential impact of sanctions against City on economic ties between the UK and Abu Dhabi.

"I can’t intervene more in the process,” he said. “It would be wrong for me to do that. It would be wrong, I think, to jump to a conclusion before having really studied all of the detail."

He also referred to his previous support for Everton when the club was sanctioned by the Premier League in 2023 for breaching its profitability and sustainability rules.

"Everton was in this position a few years ago and you might remember that I fought for Everton in that situation," Burnham said.

"I still hold the view very firmly that they weren’t fairly treated in that process."

The comments came as the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) said it had powers to assess whether Manchester City’s owners remain suitable to own an English football club.

IFR chief executive David Kogan said the independent commission’s findings had raised “serious issues” and that the regulator would use its powers where appropriate.

"The IFR has powers to assess the suitability of owners, directors and executives and we will use these powers where appropriate, in the interests of protecting the sustainability, honesty and integrity of English football where there is clear evidence of wrongdoing by individuals," Kogan said.

He added that the regulator would take the findings of the football authorities into account but would await further developments because proceedings between Manchester City and the Premier League remain ongoing.

Manchester City has denied wrongdoing and is continuing to contest the Premier League case.