Don't take them away! PM Burnham fears losing Man City's owners after guilty verdict
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made a striking intervention in the Manchester City case, admitting he would be really concerned to lose the club's owners following the guilty verdict on 114 of the 115 Premier League charges.
Details: Speaking to the BBC, Burnham called the Abu Dhabi ownership a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester and publicly thanked the City Football Group for its investment in the city.
Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester who became Prime Minister, stressed that he cannot intervene in the legal process and refused to jump to conclusions while the club contests the verdict. But his words left little doubt about where his sympathies lie: he openly thanked the owners for the money invested not only in the Etihad and the campus around it, but in Manchester as a whole. The fear behind the statement is real. With sanctions looming, ranging from a massive points deduction to a possible expulsion from the Premier League, there is growing speculation that Sheikh Mansour's structure could eventually sell the club. City, meanwhile, are preparing an appeal and insist on their innocence, while the ownership has already sent a letter to fans rejecting all accusations.
It's worth noting that Burnham's intervention comes at a moment of maximum tension around the case. Premier League clubs are demanding that the sanctions be confirmed this season and are preparing compensation claims, while the affair is already straining diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. The Prime Minister had earlier urged everyone not to rush to judgement, and his new comments will only fuel the debate about whether politics should stay away from the biggest disciplinary case in the history of English football.
Reminder: No more delays! Premier League clubs set a deadline for City's punishment
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
