Journalist: Man City chairman met with UK minister days before Premier League verdict

According to an exclusive report by journalist Alex Wickham on social media, Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak met with a senior UK government minister days before the club was found to have breached Premier League rules, to discuss UAE investments in the UK.

Sources revealed that Al Mubarak, in his capacity as CEO of Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Company, requested a meeting with UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds on September 14. Insiders stated that the two held a private meeting at Downing Street that day.

Sources indicated that Al Mubarak discussed current and future UAE investments in the UK, with the conversation covering various aspects of the relationship between the two countries, including defense, security, intelligence, and trade.

Eleven days later, on September 25, The Athletic reported that Manchester City had been found to have breached Premier League rules. On September 29, the Premier League officially confirmed that Manchester City had been found in breach for artificially inflating their balance sheet by over £900 million.

The timing of the meeting, just days before the verdict, will likely intensify questions about the UK government's handling of the case. Andy Burnham had previously faced criticism, including from ministers and officials from his own party, for publicly stating that Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners should not be disqualified from running the club due to the investments they bring to the UK.

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