Don't worry: This article isn't about which side of the political spectrum you stand on. The truth is that football is so engrains itself to British culture, just like many others, that even the more important clubs also get accidentally involved in football. Such is the case with the charges facing Manchester City and Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Burnham, of course, is tied to Greater Manchester because of his time served there in office. As much as one can speculate about what the Abu Dhabi Group -- the one that owns the Manchester City club -- did or did not do illegally or against the rules of the Premier League, the truth is that the ownership group has invested loads of money in the city of Manchester.
Maybe some people have issues with that, too, but the money invested is also a fact. This isn't that Burnham was involved in any way with the money spent, but he has observed how the Abu Dhabi Group's investment in Manchester has somewhat rehabilitated parts of the city.
Andy Burnham has an obvious close connection with Manchester and has strong views about Man City football
So when Burnham discusses the Manchester City football club and its ownership group, the British PM knows what he speaks and has insight that many others don't. If anything, the potential mess surrounding the charges for Manchester City Football Club only goes to show was a far-reaching effect they have on the greater UK.
After the verdict of guilty was announced about City allegedly breaking financial fair play rules, not cooperating with the investigation of same, and many other accusations, Burnham said, "I would be really concerned to lose them. They’ve been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester, and the building of Manchester City into the global force that it is. I do actually thank the City Football Group and the wider ownership for the money that they didn’t just put into the Etihad (Stadium) and the campus around it but also into the city."
Then Burnham basically left what happens next as far as any resulting appeal of the verdict or sanctions alone. Why? Because he has to, and he knows it. This isn't the PM saying that the owners of Man City need to be kept in place. This is him saying that the money the owners have spent has been good for the area, even if the money spent on the football club might have issues.
He's right, obviously. The Abu Dhabi Group did spend lots of money to revitalize Manchester. That doesn't mean they didn't break rules in how the Premier League needs things run. Both things can be true, and maybe they are.
If Sheikh Mansour and his group are forced to give up east Manchester, no one knows if the new owners would spend as much on the city. Plus, Andy Burnham has a right to observe both the good and the bad.
Burnham has spoken out about other prior issues with how the Premier League does business. Maybe politics and football shouldn't mix. In the case of Manchester City and Burnham, the two entities likely had to be involved. The overall concerns and situation are more complex than that, and everyone, both fans, players, and politicians, has a right to speak their view about the issue.
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