People often describe sportswashing as a tactic of 'distraction' and while that might be part of it, the ultimate goal is statements like this from the British PM delivered at a moment of weakness for Abu Dhabi amidst mass uproar & disgust at their behaviour www.theguardian.com/football/202...
![“I do actually thank the City Football Group and the wider ownership for the money that they didn’t just put into the Etihad [Stadium] and the campus around it but also into the city.”
Burnham insisted he would not get involved in the Premier League’s disciplinary process, despite the potential impact that punishing City could have on the UK-Abu Dhabi trading relationship, which is worth around £30bn a year.
Despite this, Burnham appeared to express some sympathy for City’s plight by referring to his previous involvement in campaigning on behalf of Everton, who in 2023 were docked six points by the Premier League for breaching profitability and sustainability rules.
“I can’t intervene more in the process,” he said. “It would be wrong for me to do that. It would be wrong, I think, to jump to a conclusion before having really studied all of the detail. But obviously it’s ongoing, and because it’s still contested by Manchester City then I think it’s right that I don’t say much more".](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:y3grbffg7hgana5fhwiko6gm/bafkreigcri5hcdnveih5dnthyt66qsqj6bcnguvo6dcxmohrwzdb5qj5ny)
