UK Prime Minister: I Would Be Very Concerned If Manchester City Lost Its Emirati Owners

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that he does not want the Emirati owners of Manchester City to sell the club, following the club’s conviction for multiple breaches of English Premier League rules concerning financial regulations.

In comments to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the prime minister said, “I would be extremely worried if we lost them,” referring to the investments made by the Abu Dhabi United Group in Manchester, where Burnham served as mayor until June of last year.