Burnham to release details of Man City meetings

Andy Burnham, who served as Manchester’s politician from 2017 until earlier this year, oversaw a period marked by sustained activity surrounding Manchester City. As mayor, he promoted Gulf‑based investment as a means to boost the city’s economy, a tactic that had already been pursued by local leaders before he became the first elected official of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. He addressed his earlier remarks about the club’s owners, stating, "I don't deliberation I misspoke," said Burnham of his past comments connected Man City's owners. He elaborated, "What I would accidental is my caput hadn't been connected each of the issues. My caput had been connected Labour Party league and I was doing interviews successful narration to it." He added, "And also, I didn't nexus those 2 things. You know, the questions linked those 2 things. What I would accidental is they're precise separate." Burnham further clarified, "The shot issues are antithetic from the concern issues. People volition effort and conflate those 2 things, but they shouldn't, successful my view." He emphasized the gravity of the independent panel’s conclusions, noting, "The shot issues, the findings of the autarkic committee are serious, arsenic I said successful the interview." The scrutiny of City remains separate from Premier League oversight, as he pointed out: "The full process involving the charges against Manchester City is autarkic of the Premier League." An independent committee conducted a 42‑day hearing in 2024, culminating in a verdict announced last month that found the club guilty of all charges except one related to non‑cooperation with the Premier League investigation. The panel’s report observed that "a fig of important nine witnesses gave mendacious grounds successful cardinal respects and that immoderate knowingly gave untrue and dishonest evidence." A separate autonomous appeals body will now review City’s challenge, while the nine‑member group continues to deny any wrongdoing. Read the full story at BBC News →