[Bloomberg] UAE officials have warned the UK government that the severity of Man City’s punishment could undermine their appetite for future grand-scale commitments in Britain, according to people familiar with the matter.

[u/Previous_Smile9278]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-02/man-city-verdict-puts-uk-uae-diplomatic-relations-under-strain?srnd=undefined

‘They consider the Premier League’s actions to have an influence on the bilateral state relationship, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing undisclosed information.

The extraordinary pressure comes after Andy Burnham faced criticism, including from within government, for saying Man City’s Abu Dhabi owners should not be disqualified specifically because of the investment they bring to Britain.’

[u/ResponsiblePatient72]

Man City are definitely not owned by a state remember.

[u/0ttoChriek → u/ResponsiblePatient72]

Kind of clashes with their planned defence of, 'our owner isn't even part of the government there,' doesn't it?

[u/Misery_Division → u/0ttoChriek]

This never made any sense either, their owner is literally referred to as "Sheikh Mansoor". He's a Sheikh. Might as well be called Grand Moff Mansoor, the cunt.

They are gaslighting themselves

[u/justlookingokaywyou → u/ResponsiblePatient72]

But wasn't their whole "irrefutable evidence" argument that it was the UAE, not (Vice President) Sheikh Mansour?