Tories Accuse Burnham of Being 'Out of Touch' Over Man City Owner Remarks

Conservative politicians have sharply criticised Andy Burnham for suggesting he would be troubled by the prospect of Manchester City's owners walking away from the club, describing his position as disconnected from the feelings of supporters and the wider public.

The dispute erupted after the prime minister expressed unease about the possibility that City's Abu Dhabi-backed ownership might sell up, following an independent commission's verdict that the club breached most of the 115 charges brought against it.

Burnham's intervention prompted astonishment across football, and the Conservatives have now joined the chorus of disapproval, labelling his comments "frankly extraordinary."

Manchester City have consistently denied any wrongdoing throughout the process and retain the right to lodge an appeal, with a deadline of Friday to do so.

The independent panel concluded that the club had engineered "sham contracts" with several commercial partners as part of an effort to conceal secret funding worth in excess of £830m. The Premier League, for its part, stated that City had "systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade."

The Conservatives argue that Burnham has effectively thrown his support behind the club's owners while investigations are still in progress, and they have raised questions about whether political influence is at play.

In comments to the BBC's political editor Chris Mason, Burnham insisted he was "not getting directly involved in the process" and stressed that the matter must be handled independently by the Premier League. He noted the situation remained "contested by Manchester City" and argued it would be inappropriate to "jump to a conclusion."

When pressed on whether he feared the club's owners—who have controlled City since 2008 under the leadership of Sheikh Mansour, a royal and the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates—might depart, Burnham replied that he would be "really concerned to lose them." He pointed to their role as a major partner in the development of modern Manchester and in transforming the club into a global powerhouse.

Shadow sport minister Louie French responded with a strongly worded statement on Thursday, urging the government to "keep politics out of football and ensure the Premier League's independent commission can do its job free of outside influence." The Conservative MP said the club faces allegations of a magnitude never seen before and that supporters are appalled by what they have been reading.

French went on to claim that Burnham is "publicly backing the owners even as the investigation continues," and said fans would justifiably wonder whether political pressure is being exerted and how it might relate to the owners' extensively documented investments in Manchester. He concluded that football must be governed independently, with rules applied equally to all, so that supporters can trust no club or owner sits above those rules.

Downing Street sought to distance itself from any suggestion of interference. A spokesperson said the prime minister had made clear that the initial judgement is serious and that nobody can be regarded as above the rules. The spokesperson also emphasised that the process remains independent and ongoing, that it must be permitted to run its course, and that its outcome should be respected. Should wrongdoing be established, those responsible ought to face suitable consequences, the spokesperson added.

During his BBC interview, Burnham also addressed his own past dealings with City's ownership, saying he was "of course" confident that his interactions as Greater Manchester mayor would withstand scrutiny. He drew a parallel with Everton, the club he supports, which was charged with a lesser breach of Premier League financial rules in 2023, and said he firmly believes they were not treated fairly during that process.

The prime minister's remarks have landed amid widespread shock within the football world at the sheer scale of the independent commission's findings and the forcefulness of the Premier League's language regarding City's conduct.

The independent panel that delivered the guilty verdicts will now hold a sanctions hearing, which could take months to arrange, to determine the appropriate punishment. Potential penalties include a substantial fine or a points deduction.

City are entitled to appeal both the guilty findings and any sanction ultimately imposed, a scenario that would leave both the club and the Premier League mired in confusion and uncertainty.

In a statement, City said they were "both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission" and reiterated their insistence that they are innocent of all accusations levelled against them.

David Kogan, chair of the Independent Football Regulator—a body established by the government in 2025—said the case had thrown up "serious issues." He noted that the regulator "has powers to assess the suitability of owners, directors and executives and we will use these powers where appropriate," while also taking into account the findings reached by the leagues. Kogan added that proceedings are still underway and expressed hope for a swift conclusion.