Ex-Manchester leader defends deals with Man City owners

When asked last week about potential fallout from the City charges, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who was metropolitan mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 to 2026, said he would be "really concerned" if the owners were to pull out of the club.

He added: "They've been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester and the building of Manchester City into the global force that it is."

Since then, it has been reported that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may halt UK-wide investment schemes worth billions of pounds as a result of the Premier League ruling.

Sir Richard said he hoped that Manchester did not lose UEA investment, adding: "I think certainly Abu Dhabi will be thinking that they have been very badly treated given the contribution that they have made - not just to Manchester but to English football as well."

He added: "I would be concerned if they did stop investing. I don't think they'd give us up."

Sir Richard told BBC Radio 4's Today programme earlier that "the investment in Manchester from Abu Dhabi has been very significant".

Stressing he was not speaking on behalf of the club, he pointed to the investment in City, its training complex and the City Football Group headquarters.

He added: "I think for the city, one thing about working with Abu Dhabi is everything that they promised they have delivered.

"So they have real credibility in the city. That's something we'd want to maintain.

"I don't think any other football club has got anywhere near the sort of contribution that they have made to their local community.

"What has been created in Manchester City is a phenomenon really and that has to be maintained in some way whatever the final outcome of the allegations against them."