Clubs alarmed by PM Andy Burnham's remarks on Man City appeal
October 8, 2026 12:00
WHAT HAPPENED
Clubs reacted with astonishment after Burnham said he would be "really concerned" if the club's owners decided to sell up following the commission's guilty verdict over Premier League financial rule breaches. Senior club sources described the remarks as "absolutely bizarre", "at best naive and at worst quite manipulative", and "clumsy"; one source suggested the prime minister may have "misspoken".
KEY CONTEXT
The process that found Manchester City guilty was run by an independent commission, which held a 42-day hearing in 2024 and issued its verdict last month. A sanctions hearing is still to come, and a separate independent appeal board will hear City’s appeal. The club continues to deny any wrongdoing. When the guilty verdicts were announced, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the club had "systematically broke Premier League rules for nearly a decade".
Burnham is under increased scrutiny over his links with the club's Abu Dhabi ownership from his time as mayor of Greater Manchester (2017 until earlier this year). Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has requested No 10 release details of meetings between the prime minister and senior figures at the club. Downing Street later clarified Burnham's view that no-one is "above the rules". Burnham's comments were made in an interview with the BBC's political editor Chris Mason.
REACTIONS FROM CLUBS
Senior club sources said the comments had put regulators in a difficult position and risked politicising a process they emphasise is independent. One source told BBC Sport: "Everyone would have a degree of concern. How much would depend on how much you read into that comment... But this is different, this is sport, this is our national game." Another source argued that the current level of scrutiny makes any interference unlikely.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
A sanctions hearing remains to be held and City will appeal to a separate independent appeal board.