Foreign Office advises UAE ambassador on handling of Manchester City verdict
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The UK Foreign Office sent a confidential email to its ambassador in the United Arab Emirates outlining the government's stance after Manchester City was found to have breached Premier League financial rules.
Hours after an independent commission ruled that Manchester City had breached 114 Premier League financial regulations, the UK Foreign Office sent a confidential email to ambassador Geraldine McCafferty and senior officials. The message, obtained under Freedom of Information legislation, instructed recipients on the "line to take" regarding the verdict, emphasizing that the investigation was ongoing, independent and that the government had no involvement.
The email warned that the ruling would attract significant public interest and could affect relations with the United Arab Emirates, noting that the club is owned by City Football Group, which is controlled by an Abu Dhabi investment group headed by the UAE’s Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Recipients included the Foreign Office’s director for the Middle East and North Africa, the trade commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan, as well as staff at Downing Street, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business and Trade. The correspondence was marked “official sensitive – HMG only.”
Manchester City was found to have used sham contacts with commercial partners to conceal more than £800 million in spending between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The club is appealing the verdict and has denied wrongdoing.
"The initial judgement is serious and there can't be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules," Downing Street said in a statement after criticism of the prime minister’s comments on the club’s ownership.
The email also noted that media reports were already describing the club’s guilt, suggesting officials learned of the outcome from press coverage rather than directly from the Premier League. Observers had expected a formal warning given the diplomatic sensitivities.
Sanctions have not yet been imposed, but a large points deduction and a substantial fine are anticipated. Government officials expressed concern that a severe penalty could strain the UK-UAE relationship, which includes significant UAE investment in the UK.