The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has published details of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, providing greater clarity on their past contacts following calls for transparency from opposition politicians.
The authority disclosed the information Monday, 12 October, confirming that Burnham met Al Mubarak formally in October 2021, when he was mayor of Greater Manchester. The two had also met informally in 2019 at a testimonial match for former City captain Vincent Kompany.
According to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the formal meeting took place at the UK government’s Global Investment Summit, organised by the Department for International Trade. The authority also confirmed that Manchester City staff supported Burnham’s trade delegation visits to China and Japan during his time as mayor.
Speaking on The Rest Is Politics podcast, Prim Minister said his contacts with the club were not recent and described the 2021 meeting as his only significant encounter with City officials. He served as mayor from May 2017 until June 2026, before becoming Prime Minister.
The disclosure follows debate over PM Burnham’s comments about Manchester City’s owners after an independent commission found that the club had breached Premier League financial rules. City has challenged the findings.
Manchester City was acquired in 2008 by Abu Dhabi United Group, led by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a senior member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family. Al Mubarak has chaired the club since the takeover.
Man City Owner Mansour Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Calls for transparency
The Premier League brought charges alleging that City had overstated commercial revenue, understated costs and failed to comply with financial reporting requirements. An independent commission found breaches over several seasons, including in relation to sponsorship income and funding arrangements involving ADUG.
Financial sums associated with the case have been reported at more than £900 million. However, this figure should not be interpreted as a straightforward calculation of losses or an amount that City has been ordered to repay. The club denies wrongdoing and has argued that the commission’s ruling contains significant errors. The proceedings concern the club’s financial arrangements and do not, in themselves, establish personal liability on the part of Sheikh Mansour.
Calls for greater transparency came from the Liberal Democrats and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who urged the Prime Minister to publish details of his contacts with Manchester City’s owners, representatives of Abu Dhabi and related organisations.
The debate intensified after PM Burnham expressed concern about the possibility of the owners selling the club following the commission’s ruling. In comments to the BBC, he highlighted their contribution to Manchester’s development and the transformation of City into a global football power. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister subsequently said that the club should face appropriate consequences if wrongdoing had been established.
The published records clarify the circumstances of PM Burnham’s meetings with Al Mubarak and confirm City staff’s involvement in supporting overseas trade visits. They do not establish that the meetings involved discussions about the financial case or that the contacts were improper.
The disclosure provides a clearer account of the Prime Minister’s previous engagement with one of Manchester’s most prominent sporting institutions, while the separate proceedings concerning the club’s financial conduct remain ongoing.
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