UK Prime Minister Burnham denies downplaying Man City's guilty verdict on financial charges

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has denied downplaying the gravity of Manchester City’s guilty verdict after the club was found to have committed serious breaches of Premier League financial rules across nine seasons between 2009/10 and 2017/18.

City were found guilty on all charges brought against them, including the majority of those relating to their failure to cooperate with the league’s investigation. The club has since lodged a “comprehensive” appeal to the chair of the judicial panel, Sir Gary Hickinbottom, arguing the opinion contains “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact” and is “unsafe”.

Burnham initially drew comparisons with Everton’s own Premier League charges, telling the BBC he had previously defended Everton and believed they “weren’t fairly treated in that process”. He said it would be “wrong” to take sides given that prior experience, a stance that prompted criticism that he was minimising the severity of the City findings.

Asked directly whether he had downplayed the matter, Burnham responded: “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.”

Burnham also sought to draw a distinction between the football governance questions and broader economic considerations, adding: “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.”

The case remains one of the most significant disciplinary proceedings in English football history, with City’s appeal meaning a final resolution is still some way off.