Andy Burnham warns Manchester City ownership change would be ‘extremely concerning’

Andy Burnham says he would be “extremely concerned” if Manchester City’s owners were forced to sell the club after an independent commission found the club guilty of most of 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules.

Manchester City are expected to appeal the ruling before the 2 October deadline and continue to deny any wrongdoing. The commission found that the club had used “sham contracts” with several commercial partners as part of a scheme to conceal more than £830m in secret funding.

The Premier League said Manchester City had “systematically breached the league’s rules for almost a decade”.

The case has also attracted the attention of the Independent Football Regulator, established by the government in 2025. The regulator said the findings raised “serious issues” and that it would consider its available options, including potentially withdrawing the club’s ownership licence, once disciplinary proceedings have concluded.

A hearing to determine any punishment is expected to last several months. Possible sanctions range from a substantial fine and a points deduction to expulsion from the Premier League. Manchester City could also be stripped of the eight titles they won during the period covered by the charges.

Burnham, who was Mayor of Greater Manchester until June, was asked by BBC political editor Chris Mason whether he was concerned that the club could be sold.

“I would be extremely concerned at losing them,” Burnham said on Wednesday.

“They have been a vital partner in building modern Manchester and certainly in building Manchester City into the global force it is today.”

He also thanked City Football Group and the club’s other owners for the investment they had made “not just in the Etihad Stadium and the surrounding campus, but across the whole city”.

Burnham added that he was “absolutely” confident his dealings with Manchester City’s owners during his time as mayor would withstand scrutiny.

The club has been owned since 2008 by a group led by Sheikh Mansour, the United Arab Emirates deputy prime minister. Burnham said the owners had invested heavily in Manchester.

Burnham speaks at Everton’s stadium

Burnham was speaking at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the home of Everton, the club he supports.

Everton were themselves punished for a financial rules breach in November 2023, when they were charged and deducted 10 points. That sanction was reduced to six points on appeal.

“Everton were in this position a few years ago, and you may remember that I defended Everton in that case because I still strongly believe they were not treated fairly,” Burnham said.

“I remember people condemning Everton at the time and, looking back, I think many would say the way it was handled was not fair.”

He said it was frustrating that people were quick to reach conclusions, adding that there was a great deal at stake for Manchester City supporters, the club and the city itself.

“But it would be wrong for me to intervene,” he said.

Manchester City said in a statement that it was “disappointed and surprised by the Premier League commission’s opinion” and insisted it was innocent of all the allegations.