No 10 backtrack on Andy Burnham’s controversial Manchester City comments

What did Andy Burnham say about the Manchester City case?

Burnham was previously mayor of Manchester, and it seems he had a good relationship with City’s owners as he cited the investments they’d made to the area during their time at the Etihad Stadium.

“I would be really concerned to lose them,” Burnham said of City’s owners earlier this week.

“They’ve been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester and obviously the building of Manchester City into the global force that it is.”

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It’s certainly easy to see why Burnham’s comments did not go down well, and even the latest statement from No 10 arguably doesn’t go far enough in treating with with the seriousness it deserves.

Speaking of the “initial judgement” and of wrongdoing being “established” rather plays down the fact that this is already the verdict after years of City being investigated, even if the case is technically not over yet as they can appeal the decision.

Burnham also completely falls into the trap of what so-called sportswashing is about by citing what MCFC’s ownership have done for Manchester, as that’s precisely how those with wealth seek to gain more power and influence.