The United Arab Emirates pressure Burnham: We will withdraw investments if City is punished

The United Arab Emirates are exerting great pressure on the prime minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham, because of the decision expected to be taken on the island over the financial violations committed by Manchester City.

According to British media, the United Arab Emirates have threatened Andy Burnham that if there is a heavy punishment for City over the financial violations, the consequences will be severe for England, which would be deprived of funds coming from the Middle East.

Specifically, the emirs of the states in question have made it known that they will withdraw billions of pounds, which are projected for investments in the “Oxford–Cambridge” corridor.

City’s owner, Sheikh Mansour, is deputy prime minister and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates, while his brother, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ), holds the leading post.

City’s chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, is at the same time chief executive and managing director of Mubadala, one of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds, which Mansour also runs.