Andy Burnham met with Manchester City executives on multiple occasions during his tenure as mayor of Greater Manchester, according to newly revealed information, challenging his previous statements that he held only one “significant” meeting with the club’s Abu Dhabi owners. The meetings and hospitality exchanges raise questions about Burnham’s relationship with the club amid broader scrutiny of the owners’ conduct.
Records show Burnham met with key Manchester City figures at least six times, including private meetings with CEO Ferran Soriano in 2023 and former Chief Operating Officer Roel de Vries in 2025. These meetings took place at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, partially owned by Abu Dhabi United Group, the investment vehicle behind the club. The visit with Soriano coincided with the completion of construction work on the venue’s roof, while the meeting with de Vries marked the arrival of the BRIT Awards in the city.
Additional evidence includes two instances of red-carpet hospitality provided by Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, recorded on a now-deleted register of interests that contradicted Burnham’s testimony to Members of Parliament earlier this week. Burnham had described the number of visits to the Etihad Stadium as “a small number of occasions” and said discussions with the club’s leadership did not involve the ongoing Premier League investigation into alleged breaches of rules by the club.
The investigation against Manchester City concerns claims of more than 100 violations of Premier League regulations. Sources from the United Arab Emirates have suggested that a severe penalty for the club could jeopardize up to £30 billion of British investment in the country. Burnham has publicly expressed concern about the potential loss of the Abu Dhabi owners, emphasizing their financial role in the region.
Burnham’s successor as Manchester mayor, Bev Craig, has also been linked to the club, having taken a club representative on an official visit to Delhi and Mumbai as part of a trip organized by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. Speaking about the situation, Craig acknowledged that any football club found guilty of breaking rules should be punished, but she also highlighted community benefits tied to Abu Dhabi’s investment in East Manchester, such as new libraries, leisure centers, and educational facilities.
Critics have challenged Burnham’s explanations regarding his meetings and hospitality, with Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch stating that his carefully worded responses were insufficient in addressing concerns over the relationship with Manchester City’s owners. Meanwhile, a promotional video surfaced showing Burnham attending a December 2018 match at the Etihad Stadium, although it is unclear whether this visit was declared or privately funded.
The conflicting records and ongoing inquiries have intensified calls for transparency concerning civic officials’ interactions with major foreign investors, particularly as Manchester City’s ownership remains under Premier League scrutiny. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has defended its publication policies on registers of interests, noting that entries from previous mayoral terms are no longer publicly available.