Arabic version: أندية تبدي مخاوف بشأن الاستئناف بعد تصريحات بيرنهام

According to BBC News, Premier League clubs have expressed concern about possible political interference in Manchester City’s appeal after Prime Minister Andy Burnham commented on the club’s ownership. Sources told BBC Sport that clubs were astonished by remarks that appeared to downplay the verdict against City, and questioned what the comments were intended to achieve.

Senior club figures said they were shocked after Burnham said he would be “really concerned” if Manchester City’s owners decided to sell the club following findings that it breached Premier League financial rules. One source described the comments as “absolutely bizarre”, while another called them “clumsy”. A senior club source said everyone would have “a degree of concern” about interference, though another said the scrutiny surrounding Burnham meant interference would be impossible.

The process is independent of the Premier League. An independent commission held a 42-day hearing in 2024, leading to a verdict announced last month, while a sanctions hearing is still to come. A separate independent appeal board will hear City’s appeal. Manchester City continues to deny any wrongdoing. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said when the verdicts were announced that the club had “systematically broke Premier League rules for nearly a decade”.

Burnham’s comments have also increased pressure over his relationship with the club’s Abu Dhabi ownership during his time as mayor of Greater Manchester. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for No 10 to release details of meetings between the prime minister and senior club figures. A Downing Street spokesperson said no-one was above the rules, that the case remained an ongoing independent process and that its outcome must be respected. The statement was later amended, changing “if wrongdoing is established” to “wherever” wrongdoing is established.