Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has published details of Prime Minister Andy Burnham's contacts with Manchester City Football Club and its chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, during his time as mayor of Greater Manchester, following calls from opposition politicians for greater transparency.
The authority's statement, issued on Monday 12 October, identifies a formal meeting in 2021, an informal encounter at a football match in 2019, match hospitality and participation by club staff in mayoral overseas trade delegations.
Formal meeting at government investment summit
GMCA confirmed that Burnham met Al Mubarak formally in October 2021 at the UK Government's Global Investment Summit, organised by the then Department for International Trade.
It also said Burnham met the Manchester City chairman informally in the stands at Vincent Kompany's testimonial match in September 2019.
Hospitality and overseas visits
According to GMCA, Burnham attended a small number of Manchester City home matches as a guest in his capacity as mayor. The authority said those occasions were declared in the usual way.
Manchester City representatives also supported mayoral trade visits to China and Japan. GMCA said sporting organisations commonly joined such delegations, citing Manchester United representatives on trips to Austin and Dublin and Lancashire Cricket Club representatives on a visit to India.
Opposition calls for transparency
The statement followed criticism of Burnham's reaction to an independent commission's findings that Manchester City had breached Premier League financial regulations. The club disputes the findings and is appealing.
Burnham had expressed concern about the possibility of the club's Abu Dhabi owners selling Manchester City, referring to their investment in Manchester. Downing Street subsequently said that any established wrongdoing should have appropriate consequences.
Opposition politicians, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, called for details of Burnham's meetings and contacts with the club. Burnham said he would publish details of his dealings from his time as mayor.
What the disclosure does and does not establish
The GMCA statement confirms that contacts took place and provides limited information about their circumstances. It does not publish meeting minutes, correspondence or an account of the subjects discussed at the formal meeting.
Nor does the disclosure establish improper influence, preferential treatment or wrongdoing by Burnham. Questions about investment or property transactions should not be conflated with the disclosed meetings without documentary evidence linking them.
Manchester City's Premier League disciplinary proceedings concern the football club; they do not, in themselves, establish misconduct by Burnham or Greater Manchester Combined Authority.