Andy Burnham has contradicted himself in the wake of Manchester City's guilty verdict from the independent commission. City were found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over a nine-season period, as well as charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the investigation. City are continuing to fight the charges and have doubled down on their innocence. The club will appeal the decision to a new panel, while a separate sanctions hearing will decide on the club's prospective punishment.
Prime Minister's comments under scrutiny
Eyebrows were raised earlier this week when the Prime Minister weighed in on the situation, thanking City's owners for their investment in Manchester and insisting that he would be 'concerned' if they were forced to leave the club. However, social media users have pointed out a contradiction from the PM, whereby Burnham previously warned against a potential takeover of Manchester United from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Burnham, during his time as Greater Manchester mayor, spoke about the threat of state ownership. He told The News Agents podcast: "Well these are questions that everyone's having to embrace in this Premier League era that we're now in. I don't think anyone feels completely comfortable about that and I'm going to be really clear about that. But the Premier League has moved into a place where, is all the money clean in any Premier League club? There are associations with regimes around the world, that's how it is now, isn't it? Obviously we don't have an outcome yet with regard to the ownership of Manchester United."
Burnham's defence on City
Meanwhile, on the case involving City, Burnham said: "I would be really concerned to lose them [the club's owners]. They've been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester and obviously the building of Manchester City into the global force that it is. I do actually thank the City Football Group and the wider ownership for the money that they didn't just put into the Etihad [Stadium] and the campus around it but also into the city."
Before adding: "Everton was in this position a few years ago and you might remember that I fought for Everton in that situation because I still hold the view very firmly that they weren't fairly treated in that process. I remember people proclaiming Everton guilty at the time and with hindsight I think more people would say that wasn't fair, the way that was handled. So it would be wrong of me to leap to one side given the experience that I'd had before becoming prime minister."
