Man City not 'above the rules', says No 10 after backlash to Burnham remarks — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Downing Street clarified that the PM believes "the initial judgement is serious and there can't be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules," while stressing the process must run independently and its outcome respected.
- Andy Burnham told the BBC he'd be "really concerned to lose" City's owners, who he called "a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester," and compared the case to Everton's 2023 PSR charge, which he said wasn't "fairly treated."
- Tory shadow sport minister Louie French demanded government "keep politics out of football," while Lib Dem MP Anna Sabine warned Burnham is "prime minister for everyone, not just Manchester" — both questioning whether political pressure was being applied.
- Commons Treasury committee chair Dame Meg Hillier wrote to HMRC on Thursday seeking reassurance it had "seized of the importance" of the case for any potential tax implications, opening a parallel fiscal angle.
- Independent Football Regulator chairman David Kogan said the case raised "serious issues" and confirmed the IFR has "powers to assess the suitability of owners, directors and executives" it will use "where appropriate."
- Manchester City have until Friday to submit an appeal, with sources telling BBC Sport they plan to argue key sponsorship deals were funded by the Abu Dhabi government rather than the club's owners; a sanctions hearing could take months and result in a huge fine or points deduction.
Why it matters: The political firestorm over Burnham's comments risks distracting from two concrete regulatory tracks now in motion: City's Friday appeal deadline and the Treasury committee's formal HMRC referral, which could turn a sporting sanctions case into a tax investigation. The IFR's confirmed owner-suitability powers also mean even a successful appeal may not insulate Sheikh Mansour from future scrutiny.
Ask SkimNews
