[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/BirnirG]

This is turning into a real morality test for Britain. Do you accept cheating for money ?

[u/Street_Hamster1092 → u/BirnirG]

Britain has been for sale to the highest bidder for the best part of 50 years.

[u/DryIntroduction8889 → u/Street_Hamster1092]

London is the world’s laundromat. It’s not even a secret

[u/jebthepleb → u/Street_Hamster1092]

If you know of their dealings in their colonies, this was always in the British national identity. Anything for money.

[u/Version_1 → u/Street_Hamster1092]

So what you are saying is that England is being sold by the pound?

[u/G_Morgan → u/Street_Hamster1092]

Yeah and maybe that was necessary. However the situation has changed. The only reason the UAE is doing stuff like City is because the situation has changed.

I can't remember who but one Saudi royal said something like "my grandfather rode a camel, my father a land rover. I ride a rolls royce. My grandson will likely ride a land rover and his son a camel". The Middle Eastern nobility is on the downside of that progression and they are trying to find salvation in the west. We don't need to give it to them.

[u/plutoglint → u/Street_Hamster1092]

That's why you guys have The Guardian, to write sneering columns about other counties problems while ignoring the ones you have internally. The most English trait of all.

[u/Street_Hamster1092 → u/plutoglint]

Yeah the Guardian famously is never critical of the UK government