🇬🇧🇦🇪⚡️ — British PM Andy Burnham has defended his previous comments expressing hope that the UAE would continue investing in Manchester despite Manchester City's guilty charges, insisting that the club's football-related issues should be treated separately from Emirati investment in the city.

"I don't think I misspoke," Burnham said, arguing that "the football issues are different from the investment issues" and should not be conflated.

He acknowledged the seriousness of the findings against Manchester City, stressing that "football needs integrity" and that "the rules apply to everybody," while maintaining that the independent process must run its course.

Burnham also said he would publish details of his meetings with Emirati representatives, stating that he had only one significant meeting in 2021 during his time as mayor of Greater Manchester.