Strong warning from the United Arab Emirates government to England amid the controversy surrounding Manchester City

The Premier League's sanction against Manchester City has escalated to the level of government and foreign ministries. While awaiting the resolution after the English club filed an appeal, the owners of the Citizens have directly threatened the British authorities. In that scenario, the Government of the United Arab Emirates, owner of 82% of the club's shares, warned that it could reduce its investment in the United Kingdom depending on how severe the sanction imposed on the Manchester side is, after it was found guilty in relation to financial irregularities. The sanction that the independent commission decides can range from a financial fine to the loss of points, titles, relegation, or even expulsion from professional football. According to the website of the economic outlet Bloomberg, officials from Abu Dhabi warned the British government that the severity of the punishment could have an impact on the "appetite for large-scale investments and commitments in the United Kingdom." Strong presence The club was acquired in 2008 by the investment fund Abu Dhabi United Group, which has injected large sums of money into the club. As the Premier League has demonstrated, the English side defrauded more than 1.2 billion dollars between 2009 and 2018 through inflated sponsorships. Most of them with companies from that Persian Gulf country. According to data published by the same outlet, over the last five years, the United Arab Emirates has invested more than 40 million US dollars in important sectors of the United Kingdom such as defense, technology, and science. A problem that has also escalated to the level of international relations. In fact, a summit between the two countries is already scheduled for this month, in which it is expected that the positions of both sides will be balanced. Bloomberg also states that the British are "frustrated" by the attitude of the United Arab Emirates in this scandal. The Europeans understand that the Asians were aware of the irregularities committed by City for nearly a decade, although they insist they were not doing anything outside the regulations. The Emirati position became known after the controversial remarks of the British prime minister, Andy Burnham, who had to retract after saying that it would be "very concerning" to lose the owners of Manchester City if they had to leave the club due to the scandal. In that scenario, a spokesperson for the English government issued a statement hours later clarifying that no one is above the law and that those responsible will have to face the consequences. The Citizens announced that they have already filed the appeal over the financial irregularities. The final verdict is expected to be known in January. NEWSLETTER El Deportivo Monday, 8:45 AM A special selection with coverage and analysis of the most important sporting events of the weekend, by the Sports team of La Tercera. By subscribing you are accepting the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policies of La Tercera.