British Prime Minister Andy Burnham met Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak during his time as Greater Manchester mayor, officials have confirmed, amid growing scrutiny over his comments on the club's Premier League financial breaches.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) confirmed on Monday that Burnham held a formal meeting with Al Mubarak at a government investment summit in October 2021.
The disclosure follows criticism of Burnham after he expressed concern over the possibility of Manchester City's owners selling the club following a landmark ruling that found the 10-time English champions guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations.
Burnham, who served as Greater Manchester mayor from 2017 until June 2026, said he would be "really concerned" if City's owners decided to sell.
His remarks prompted accusations that he was defending the club's leadership, forcing Downing Street to clarify that nobody was "above the rules".
The controversy has also raised questions about Burnham's relationship with City's Abu Dhabi-based owners, who have played a significant role in Manchester's economic development through investment partnerships with local authorities.
Manchester City are owned by Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), which is controlled by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, a member of the United Arab Emirates royal family.
A GMCA spokesperson confirmed that Burnham met Al Mubarak at the UK Government's Global Investment Summit in October 2021, an event organised by the Department for International Trade.
Officials also acknowledged that Burnham attended several Manchester City home matches as a guest during his mayoral tenure.
These included Vincent Kompany's testimonial match in September 2019, where Burnham met Al Mubarak informally in the stands.
According to the authority, the meetings and hospitality arrangements were declared through the appropriate channels.
The GMCA also explained that representatives from Greater Manchester's sporting organisations regularly participated in international business delegations during Burnham's time as mayor.
Manchester United representatives joined visits to Austin and Dublin, Lancashire Cricket Club participated in a delegation to India, while Manchester City staff supported trips to China and Japan.
The revelations come as Manchester City continue their legal challenge against a ruling that found the club guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial regulations.
An independent commission concluded that City had arranged sham commercial contracts to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs over nine seasons between 2009 and 2018.
City have appealed the decision, arguing that the verdict contains "clear material errors of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe".
The Premier League leaders could face severe sporting sanctions if their appeal fails, potentially including a substantial points deduction or expulsion from the competition.
Despite the GMCA's explanation, opposition figures have questioned whether sufficient information has been disclosed about Burnham's interactions with Manchester City's leadership.
Louie French, the Conservatives' spokesperson for sport, criticised the statement for providing "precious little information" about the meetings, including what was discussed and whether any agreements were reached.
French argued that the disclosure fell short of the transparency football supporters deserve and insisted that Burnham should personally address the concerns rather than rely on the GMCA's statement.
The controversy adds another political dimension to Manchester City's ongoing financial dispute, with questions surrounding the relationship between public officials, major football clubs and their wealthy international owners attracting increased attention.
With City's appeal still unresolved, scrutiny of the club's ownership and its connections to influential political figures is likely to continue.
