NORTH Herefordshire MP Ellie Chowns accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of “putting his foot in it” over his intervention in the Manchester City financial rules row during an appearance on BBC Newsnight.

The Green Party’s Westminster leader was speaking on Thursday night as debate continued over Burnham’s comments about Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owners following the club’s reported guilty verdict on 114 of 115 Premier League charges.

Chowns said Burnham had been wrong to question the process while the case remained live.

She told Newsnight: “I think it is Andy Burnham putting his foot in it by wading into passing judgment on something he has no business to do.

“Obviously, there is something quite fishy going on here. An independent investigation by the Premier League has gone on for three years, I think, investigating things that have gone back ten-plus years.”

She went on to criticise Burnham for what she described as “wading in and casting doubt on the entire thing”, arguing that politicians should not interfere with an independent disciplinary process.

Burnham had said he would be “really concerned” if Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owners sold the club, while praising their role in the development of modern Manchester and the club’s rise as a global football force.

His comments came after an independent commission reportedly found City guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them, covering alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules over more than a decade.

Manchester City have denied wrongdoing and are expected to appeal the decision. No sporting sanction has yet been confirmed.

Downing Street later said City should face the “appropriate consequences” if wrongdoing was established, while stressing that the disciplinary process must remain independent and be allowed to run its course.

During the Newsnight discussion, Chowns also widened her criticism to the influence of wealthy owners in modern football.

She said: “Football is such an issue with big money now. It is a game and is supposed to be about the fans who have been hugely let down by this.

“It is supposed to be something that really belongs to the people. It is not any more, because it is owned by these huge, huge investors, billionaires. That is taking it away from where it really ought to be.”

The North Herefordshire MP’s comments placed her among those criticising Burnham’s intervention as the political fallout from the Manchester City case continued.

Burnham, a former mayor of Greater Manchester and an Everton supporter, had also referred to his own club’s previous treatment under Premier League financial rules. His intervention prompted criticism from opposition politicians, while Number 10 sought to emphasise that the independent process involving City should be allowed to continue without political pressure as the club prepares its challenge.

Chowns has represented North Herefordshire since the 2024 General Election and has served as the Green Party’s Westminster leader since September 2025.

The football club faces a Friday deadline to lodge an appeal, with any final outcome potentially delayed while the process continues.

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