By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2026-10-02 21:45:08 | Updated at 2026-10-03 23:58:41
1 day ago
Andy Burnham has been warned by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that it will pull billions of pounds of investment out of Britain after Manchester City was found guilty of breaking Premier League rules.
Mr Burnham previously said he would be "really concerned" if the UAE decided to sell up the football club but was forced into a U-turn, with Downing Street insisting no team is "above the rules".
The pair met at Downing Street to discuss the two countries' relationship in defence, security, intelligence and trade, as part of Al Mubarak's role as CEO of Mubadala Investment Company, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, according to Bloomberg.
Just 11 days after the pair met, Manchester City were found guilty of breaking Premier League rules.
Al Mubarak reportedly knew City had been found guilty at the time of the meeting, with the Department for Business and Trade insisting the pair did not discuss the club.
The UAE is understood to have invested over £30billion into British sectors over the past five years.
Andy Burnham has been warned by the UAE that it will pull billions out of the UK over Manchester City's guilty verdict
The former Chancellor Rachel Reeves claimed the development of the Cambridge and Oxford route could bring in £78billion to the UK economy in the next 10 years.
However, the Premier League's judgement has dealt a major blow to relations between the two nations.
Richard Masters, the chief executive of the Premier League, said the findings "vindicated" the league's decision to pursue the probe against City.
He said: "The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League rules for nearly a decade.
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is understood to have met with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds
"It also vindicates the Premier League's decision to pursue this case against Manchester City.
"While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the league has remained determined that the facts be established independently.
"It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition.
"It is paramount that the league remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans. We take that role extremely seriously."
Manchester City have lodged an appeal after being found guilty of breaching Premier League rules
City confirmed they will appeal, writing: "Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Club lodged its comprehensive Appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter.
"The Club's firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.
"The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.
"We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete."
City have always denied any wrongdoing.
