Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has acknowledged meeting with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak while serving as the region's mayor. These meetings have come under scrutiny following the Premier League's decision to charge Manchester City with over 100 alleged breaches of financial regulations. The disclosure of these interactions has prompted questions regarding the transparency of the mayor's relationship with the club's leadership during a period of significant regulatory investigation.

Burnham, who has previously served as a government minister, faced public criticism for his initial reaction to the charges brought against the club. Critics argued that his response lacked the necessary distance required for a public official overseeing the region where the club is based. While Burnham has maintained that his duties involve engaging with major regional stakeholders, the timing of these meetings relative to the club's legal and financial challenges has become a point of contention. The mayor's office has stated that such meetings are part of the standard engagement process for regional leaders dealing with significant local institutions, though the specific nature and frequency of these discussions remain a subject of public debate. There is currently no evidence presented that these meetings influenced the regulatory process, but the optics of the relationship have drawn attention from those monitoring the Premier League's financial conduct investigation.