Key facts
- Manchester City found guilty of 114 Premier League financial rule breaches.
- Club denies wrongdoing and has until Oct. 2 to appeal.
- Mayor Andy Burnham concerned if owners sell after breaches.
- Sanctions could include fines, points deduction, or title stripping.
- Independent panel found "sham contracts" for secret funding.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has stated he would be "really concerned" if Manchester City's owners decide to sell the club following its guilty verdict on 114 Premier League financial rule breaches. The club, owned by Abu Dhabi's ruling family, denies any wrongdoing and is expected to appeal the findings by October 2.
Burnham, who served as mayor until June, thanked the City Football Group and its ownership for their significant investment in Manchester and the club, acknowledging their role in building Manchester City into a "global force." He emphasized that he would maintain a distance from the case, drawing parallels to his past advocacy for Everton when they faced financial rule breaches.