Burnham 'really concerned' if Man City owners sell up after rule breaches

What the report says

Andy Burnham has said he would be “really concerned” if Manchester City’s owners decided to sell the club after a Premier League commission found the team guilty of multiple financial rule breaches. Burnham, who was speaking to the BBC from Everton’s new stadium, said the Abu Dhabi-backed ownership group had been a major investor in Manchester and had played an important role in the club’s growth and in wider development around the Etihad Stadium area.

The comments come after an independent panel found that City had broken most of the Premier League rules they were accused of breaching, with the club denying wrongdoing and saying it was disappointed and surprised by the findings. The Premier League has said City systematically broke its rules over nearly a decade. The case is now moving toward a sanctions hearing, which could take time to arrange and could lead to punishments ranging from a fine to points deductions or even expulsion, though any outcome could still be appealed.

Burnham compared the situation with Everton’s earlier financial case, saying his experience made him cautious about jumping to conclusions. He said people should avoid rushing to judgment and stressed that the issue matters for City supporters, the club and Manchester as a whole. Separately, the new Independent Football Regulator has said the case raises serious concerns and may consider wider action once football’s disciplinary process is finished. As background, the regulator was established by the UK government in 2025.