The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has disclosed that Andy Burnham held one formal meeting with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak during his time as mayor, as scrutiny grows over the Prime Minister's comments following the club's financial-rule verdict.
According to the GMCA, the meeting took place in October 2021 at the UK government's Global Investment Summit, organised by the Department for International Trade.
Burnham also met Al Mubarak informally at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium in September 2019 while attending former captain Vincent Kompany's testimonial. The authority said Burnham had attended a small number of City home matches as a guest and that the hospitality had been declared through the usual procedures.
The GMCA added that representatives from Greater Manchester sports clubs regularly accompanied business delegations on international visits during Burnham's mayoralty. Manchester United staff joined trips to Austin and Dublin, Lancashire County Cricket Club representatives travelled to India, while Manchester City personnel supported visits to China and Japan.
The disclosure follows criticism of Burnham's response to an independent commission's findings against Manchester City. The commission found that the club had breached Premier League financial regulations between 2009 and 2018, including through what it described as a disguised funding scheme involving sham commercial contracts that artificially inflated revenue by £830m.
City has denied wrongdoing and lodged an appeal against the findings. No final sanctions have been announced.
Burnham had promised to publish details of his dealings with the club after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called for greater transparency. Speaking on The Rest Is Politics podcast, he said he would disclose his interactions with senior City figures during his time as mayor and stressed that the significant meeting had taken place in 2021.
The Prime Minister has faced criticism over comments in which he said he would be concerned if City's Abu Dhabi-backed owners decided to sell the club following the verdict. He had highlighted their contribution to Manchester's development, prompting questions about whether his remarks gave insufficient weight to the commission's findings.
Some Premier League clubs have reportedly expressed concern that Burnham's comments could create the perception of political interference in City's appeal. Those concerns have been reported by BBC Sport, citing sources from within the league.
Shadow sports minister Louie French criticised Burnham's response, arguing that the Prime Minister should personally account for his relationship with the club rather than rely on the GMCA's disclosure. French also called on the government to provide more information about the meetings, including what was discussed.
The controversy comes as City prepares to challenge the independent commission's findings through the league's appeal process. The outcome could have significant consequences for the club, although any sanctions will depend on the eventual resolution of the case.
City returned to action on Sunday with a 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, but the ongoing disciplinary proceedings and questions surrounding Burnham's past dealings with the club remain in the spotlight.
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