Burnham promises to disclose dealings with Manchester City owners

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would publish details of his dealings with Manchester City’s owners during his time as mayor of Greater Manchester, ITV reported on October 11.

Burnham said his only significant meeting with them took place in 2021. He made the pledge in an interview for The Rest Is Politics podcast, following criticism of his comments about the club’s ownership.

The prime minister said the financial-rule case was serious and that the independent process should run its course. He argued that football-related issues should be considered separately from investment matters.

The Premier League said an independent commission had found Manchester City guilty of financial-rule breaches covering the 2009/10 to 2017/18 seasons and most allegations concerning failure to cooperate. The club denies wrongdoing and submitted an appeal on October 2.

Burnham’s statement is a commitment to disclose information, rather than confirmation that the records have been released. The reported comments do not determine the appeal’s outcome or the club’s eventual punishment.