Downing Street has insisted Manchester City are not above the rules after Prime Minister Andy Burnham faced criticism over his response to the clubs Premier League financial case. Burnham said on Wednesday that he would be really concerned if Citys owners decided to sell the club following the independent commissions guilty verdict.His comments drew criticism from the Conservatives and surprised some within football, prompting No. 10 to clarify the Prime Ministers position on Thursday.As the Prime Minister made clear, the initial judgement is serious and there cant be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules, a Downing Street spokesperson said.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.City deny wrongdoing and have until Friday to submit an appeal against the commissions findings.The Premier League said this week that City systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade, with the independent commission finding that the club arranged sham contracts with commercial partners as part of a scheme involving more than �830m in disguised funding.Burnham would be really concerned if City owners leftBurnham, who served as mayor of Greater Manchester until June, discussed the verdict during an interview with the BBC on Wednesday.He stressed that he did not want to interfere with the Premier Leagues disciplinary process and highlighted that City continue to contest the findings.Burnham said it would be wrong to jump to a conclusion while the process remains ongoing.However, when asked about the possibility of Citys owners selling the club as a consequence of the case, Burnham highlighted their contribution to Manchester since taking control in 2008.I would be really concerned to lose them, Burnham said.Theyve 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.I cant intervene more in the process, it would be wrong for me to do that.City have been owned by Sheikh Mansour since 2008. Mansour is a member of Abu Dhabis ruling family and serves as deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. Topics Manchester City F.C. Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Manchester City to use Abu Dhabi government argument in appeal against financial verdict Mitch Fretton 1st October, 2026 Gary Neville calls for Manchester City owners to be removed after dragging Premier League through the mud Mitch Fretton 1st October, 2026 Man City whistleblower: Infantino helped club avoid sanctions and should have no place in football Cian Cheesbrough 30th September, 2026 Erling Haaland no different after Manchester City guilty verdict Cian Cheesbrough 1st October, 2026 Burnham would be really concerned to lose Man City owners over financial breaches Nicholas McGee 30th September, 2026 Klopp far from preparing for a title after Man City guilty verdicts Nicholas McGee 30th September, 2026
