ANDY Burnham has been forced to back-pedal after saying he did not want to “lose” Manchester City’s mega-rich owners.
He was accused of political interference as sporting bodies decide the fate of the club — found guilty of more than .
Last night No10 clarified that the initial was “serious” and “there can’t be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules”.
say City may owe more than £20million and could face a criminal probe. City deny any wrongdoing.
The Prime Minister was blasted for saying he would be “really concerned” if they quit after the Premier League revealed a damning £900million of financial breaches.
Burnham forged close links with the Blues’ owners — Abu Dhabi United Group — in his previous role as Manchester mayor, hailing their investment in the area.
But his comments — described as “extraordinary” by Tory critics — sparked fears of undue pressure placed on the government-backed regulator, who may have to rule if City’s ownership model is “fit and proper”.
Mr Burnham rowed back amid mounting criticism. A No10 spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister has stressed it’s an ongoing independent process.
“It’s essential that it’s allowed to run its course and the outcome respected.
“Wherever wrongdoing is established, those responsible should face the appropriate consequences.“
City, who deny any wrongdoing and of their innocence, have until today to lodge an appeal.
Mr Burnham’s remarks on Wednesday came 24 hours after he used his for doing differently.
Shadow Sports Minister Louie French said: “’s intervention in support of ’s owners is frankly extraordinary.
“The club face unprecedented allegations and fans are horrified by what they are reading in the papers.
“Yet Burnham is publicly backing the owners even as the investigation continues.
“Fans will rightly ask whether political pressure is being applied here and how it relates to the owners’ well-reported investments in Manchester.
Mr French added: “Football must be governed independently, with the rules applying equally to everyone. Fans deserve confidence that no club or owner is above those rules.
“Burnham’s comments are completely out of touch with fans and the wider public.”
Reform Treasury spokesperson added: “Why is the Prime Minister siding with City’s owners when they’ve disgraced our national sport?
“He seems more interested in Middle Eastern money than protecting the integrity of the game. Fans deserve better than this sell-out.”
City’s owners spent hundreds of millions on housing and infrastructure projects in Manchester while Mr Burnham was mayor.
They include the a £200million football facility and £300million for the Etihad Stadium’s north stand.
There was also a £1billion, ten-year deal with the council to build up to 6,000 properties in Ancoats and New Islington, north-east of Manchester city centre.
Weeks after entering No10 this summer, Mr Burnham held a call with Mansour’s brother, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.
Last year officials from the UAE were said to have privately warned the Government that a harsh outcome in its case could damage relations and put billions of existing investment at risk.
Former FA boss , chairman of Manchester City from 1998 to 2003, said: “We’re going to see now whether this new (independent regulator) stands up, because the regulator will never be faced with bigger issues than this.
“I’ve been concerned all the way through that there’s a danger of political interference, whether it be that City are just, I use the words, ‘too big to fail’, or there’s a national interest involved.”
Respected football journalist Henry Winter called the PM’s comments “astonishing” and “alarming”, adding: “Burnham spoke as a politician seemingly with one eye on diplomatic and trade links.
“He spoke as a former mayor whose city benefited from investment in east Manchester by Abu Dhabi.”
He warned his words could further “embolden” City, adding: “Bit of an own goal by No10.”
COPS 'MUST PROBE CLUB'
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MANCHESTER City bosses should face a criminal probe and may owe millions in tax, a leading lawyer has said.
An investigation by Dan Neidle’s Tax Policy Associates group says City could face a penalty of up to £24million over off-book payments to ex-boss Roberto Mancini.
A Premier League panel of three top lawyers has described a consultancy contract said to have been set up with Mancini as a “sham”.
It allowed the Italy boss, 61, who won the league with City in 2011-12, to receive millions in payments for working four days a year for a mysterious Abu Dhabi-based firm.
Mancini received a base salary worth £1.45million after tax through HMRC systems in the UK. Yet records indicate he was also paid £1.75million a year by the Al Jazira Sports and Cultural Club for “consulting work”.
Mr Neidle, one of Britain’s top tax experts, yesterday said records show up to £8.866million was ultimately paid to firms associated with Mancini.
He added that the payments were a salary — liable to tax.
The TPA report estimates that the total tax penalty faced by City could be as high as £24million, across Mancini’s three and a half years in charge.
There is also maximum jail penalty of seven years for dishonestly falsifying accounting documents for gain.
The report adds: “We are not suggesting that any specific individuals at Manchester City, or indeed Mr Mancini, committed an offence.
“We are saying that there appear to be good grounds for a criminal investigation of the circumstances under which a sham arrangement was put in place and tax was not paid when it should have been.”
A parliamentary select committee last night wrote to HMRC demanding to know if City would be investigated.
Tory peer Lord Cruddas, whose CMC Markets firm sponsors Everton, said: “If accounts have been falsified and auditors misled then it’s potentially a criminal matter.”
Mancini said on Monday that the “alleged double contract is not my concern”. HMRC was asked to comment.
Fans also hit out, including Gary Hetherington who posted: “Andy Burnham should be nowhere near this story. Yes, they may have put money into Manchester but this is sport, it should be independent.”
Annie Eaves added: “Andy Burnham has dug himself a big hole.”
But frontman and City supporter welcomed the PM’s comments, posting on X: “There’s only 1 ANDY BURNHAM. I told ya. Friends in high places.”
The football world was rocked last week when City were found guilty of more than 100 financial rule breaches from 2009 to 2018.
The Premier League said they had falsely with commercial partners and filing inaccurate accounts.
The club were also accused of failing to co-operate with investigators.
The PM subsequently said of City’s owners: “I would be really concerned to lose them.
“They’ve been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester.
“Obviously, the building of Manchester City into the global force that it is.” But he added: “I can’t intervene more in the process.”
Independent Football Regulator chairman David Kogan has powers to assess the suitability of owners, directors and executives.
He said: “As proceedings remain ongoing between Manchester City and the Premier League we will await further developments.”
Sources close to City say they have “irrefutable evidence” to clear them on appeal.
, who was seen with Mr Burnham at the Etihad in 2019, says the club did nothing wrong.
He told fans: “Our confidence and intent in proving the Club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.”
BOSS IMMUNE
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CITY chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is protected from legal action by diplomatic immunity, it emerged yesterday.
The Financial Times reported that the exec, who is also a senior member of Abu Dhabi’s government, has been on the UK’s list of approved diplomats since 2020.
The special status means he is ordinarily protected from criminal investigations as well as civil proceedings.
The findings against City have not suggested wrongdoing by Al Mubarak, but his status could still complicate matters, as other Premier League clubs are expected to sue City over losses made in the wake of its financial dealings.
Lawyers also say his immunity would pose issues if the police or Serious Fraud Office want to take action.
Al Mubarak remained bullish in the face of the charges against City and has said that “nothing has changed”.
The club plans to appeal all charges against them.
