October 2: Manchester City should face “appropriate consequences” if an offense is found, a spokesman for British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Thursday, clarifying the prime minister’s earlier remarks.
Burnham’s comments came as the club formally appealed the independent panel’s verdict saying the ruling contained “clear material errors of law, principle and fact and is unsafe”.
Still claiming they are innocent of breaching financial regulation, the club said on Thursday evening it had presented “a full body of irrefutable evidence (that) exists in support of all its positions”.
At the same time, a spokesman for Number Ten clarified Burnham’s statements that he had expressed concern about the potential loss of Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owners over breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.
The spokesman said: “As the Prime Minister made clear, the initial judgment is serious and there can be no suggestion that anyone is above the rules.
“He also stressed that it is an ongoing independent process, it is essential that it be allowed to follow its course and that the result be respected.
“If a violation is established, those responsible should face appropriate consequences.”
A day earlier, Burnham, formerly mayor of Greater Manchester, had told the BBC he “would be very worried to lose them”. He credited the owners as “a great partner in the building of modern Manchester”.
An Everton fan, Burnham appeared to draw a parallel between City’s guilty verdict and the handling of a disciplinary case against Everton. He argued that Everton “were not treated fairly”. He said: “I remember people blaming Everton at the time and with hindsight I think more people would say that wasn’t fair, the way it was handled.
“So it would be a mistake for me to jump to the side given the experience I had before becoming prime minister.”
The independent commission found that City used “bogus” contracts with business partners as part of the scheme to funnel more than £800m in secret funding to the club. The Premier League said City “systematically broke Premier League rules for almost a decade”.
In a statement on Tuesday, the club maintained its innocence and indicated that it would appeal. He wrote: “The Club is innocent of the allegations made by the Premier League and a full body of irrefutable evidence exists to support all of its positions, relating to this case. The Club will therefore be relentless and, if necessary, proactive, in all appropriate legal and regulatory forums.”
“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements not completed. Manchester City FC will now pursue the avenues of appeal available to them, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.”
The BBC reported that City will claim on appeal that key sponsorship deals were funded by the Abu Dhabi government, rather than the club’s owners.
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