Members of the Foreign Office and British Embassy in Dubai have asked for updates on Manchester City’s ongoing legal case with the Premier League.
The Times’ Martyn Ziegler has revealed that documents show that members of the Conservative government, including then Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, asked for information on the process as recently as May this year.
Most of the information is heavily redacted on the grounds that it could damage the UK’s relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the emails show that ministers, MPs and officials received updates on the charges.
Sheikh Mansour of Abu Dhabi is Man City’s owner, and the vice president of the UAE, which explains why they are so interested.
In the emails, the Foreign Office insist to the United Arab Emirates that they have no involvement, and it’s an independent case involving the Premier League.
The Citizens are charged with 130 alleged breaches of various financial rules and not co-operating with the Premier League.
The case has already started, with a verdict expected later this month.
The verdict will then need to be published, with that expected to be at some point next year before either side can appeal, starting a new hearing.
So, we could be nowhere near a conclusion, but what these emails show is that this case has a lot of eyes on it from all over the world.
