British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to make public details of his previous meetings with Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi-backed owners as political scrutiny intensifies over the club’s financial misconduct scandal.
The commitment follows demands from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who questioned Burnham’s relationship with the club after he expressed concerns about the possibility of its owners withdrawing their investment.
Speaking on The Rest Is Politics podcast on Saturday, Burnham said he was prepared to disclose his interactions with senior City officials during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
He maintained that there was nothing improper about those engagements, revealing that his only substantial meeting with club representatives took place in 2021.
Burnham, who served as mayor between 2017 and early 2026, has faced criticism for suggesting that a potential sale of Manchester City by its current owners would be troubling.
His comments came after an independent commission found the Premier League champions guilty of serious financial rule violations involving more than £830 million.
The findings raised fresh questions about the relationship between the club’s owners and political figures involved in Greater Manchester’s economic development.
However, Burnham defended his earlier remarks, arguing that the financial allegations against the football club should not be confused with the wider investments its owners have made in the region.
He acknowledged the seriousness of the commission’s conclusions but insisted that his concerns about a possible ownership change related to the economic consequences for Greater Manchester.
The prime minister also rejected suggestions that he had deliberately minimised the scandal, explaining that his attention had been focused on the Labour Party conference when he initially addressed the issue.
The controversy stems from an investigation into Manchester City’s financial activities between 2009 and 2018.
According to the commission, the club used misleading commercial arrangements to channel more than £830 million into its operations while concealing the true source of the funds.
Investigators also concluded that several witnesses connected to City provided dishonest or misleading testimony during the proceedings.
Manchester City have denied wrongdoing and appealed the decision, with an independent panel expected to reconsider the findings before any disciplinary measures are finalised.
The case has also prompted reported concerns among rival Premier League clubs about potential political influence over the appeal process.
Meanwhile, City have continued their domestic campaign despite the uncertainty, securing a commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
Burnham’s promised disclosure could provide greater clarity about his previous dealings with the club’s ownership, although questions surrounding the relationship between football investment and political influence are unlikely to disappear while the appeal remains unresolved.
