UK Prime Minister Burnham To Publish Man City Meeting Details

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he will make public the details of his meetings with senior Manchester City figures after facing criticism over his response to the club being found guilty on all charges related to Premier League financial rules.

An independent commission ruled that City breached regulations over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018 by using “sham” contracts with commercial partners to secretly direct more than £830m into their football operations.

Burnham’s earlier role as mayor of Greater Manchester has raised questions about his relationship with City’s Abu Dhabi ownership. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch demanded that No 10 release all information about meetings between the prime minister and senior club officials.

Speaking on the Rest is Politics podcast, Burnham said he was willing to comply. “I’ve been asked by the leader of the opposition to publish details of my meetings, which I’m happy to do and I’m going to,” he said.

He added that he would disclose everything he did with the club during his time as mayor, stressing that none of the meetings were recent and that he had only one significant meeting, in 2021.

The prime minister initially told the BBC he would be “really concerned” if Manchester City’s owners decided to sell the club following the guilty verdict. He later denied that his reaction had “downplayed the seriousness of the findings”.

BBC Sport reported that some Premier League clubs were so “astonished” by Burnham’s stance that sources said they were worried about political interference in the appeal process.

Sanctions have not yet been announced, and City have lodged an appeal against the verdict. The club returned to action for the first time since the ruling on Sunday, defeating Liverpool 3-0.