Andy Burnham has denied accusations that he downplayed the seriousness of the independent commission's findings against Manchester City. The club were found guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations across a nine-season period spanning 2009/10 to 2017/18, including the vast majority of charges stemming from their failure to cooperate with the league's investigation.
Appeal submitted
City have submitted a "comprehensive" appeal against the ruling to the chair of the judicial panel, Sir Gary Hickinbottom. Their stance is that "on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe."
When questioned last week about potential concerns regarding the club's owners possibly selling up, Burnham responded: "I would be really concerned to lose them. 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."
Burnham's response
The Prime Minister continued: "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."
Burnham has since addressed accusations that he was minimising the severity of the situation by voicing such concerns. He told the BBC: "No, I haven't downplayed the seriousness of the findings. They are findings that need to be considered with great care and seriousness, and then the process that considers them needs to be fully independent.
"I said that last week, and I will repeat it again. I think it's incumbent on everybody now to let the process run its course.
"I was asked a question about wider investment. I think it's important to separate the football issues from wider investment.
"The football issues have to be looked at fully, and that is without question."
Everton comparison
The Prime Minister also drew comparisons to Everton and their breach of the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). Last week, he said: "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."
He added: "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."
A No 10 Downing Street spokesman had to clarify his initial comments, saying: "As the Prime Minister made clear, the initial judgement is serious and there can't be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules. He also stressed that it is an ongoing independent process.
"It is essential that it is allowed to run its course and the outcome respected. Wherever wrongdoing is established, those responsible should face the appropriate consequences."
