Manchester City would be forced to change ownership under new proposal in Football Governance Bill | OneFootball

A staggering proposal and amendment to the Football Governance Bill would force Manchester City to change ownership, if approved, it has been revealed.

Manchester City’s ownership has long been at the centre of criticism by several quarters of the football world since the four-time successive Premier League champions were forced bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group back in 2008.

One of the key critics stoking the fire in the media has been La Liga president Javier Tebas, insisting that Manchester City’s supposed financial irregularities should be heavily punished by football’s governing bodies.

City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak hit back at criticism from Tebas back in 2022, when he responded, “Always look at facts. People with glass homes shouldn’t be throwing rocks. Let’s always stick to facts. I’m happy to talk to anyone as long as the conversation is about facts.”

But it seems as though opposition to Manchester City’s ownership, and one other club from within the Premier League, is now being attempted to be pushed through Government in a staggering proposal to a new bill.

According to the information of The Times’ Martyn Ziegler, a proposal has been put forward by Labour peer, Lord Bassam of Brighton to ban state-controlled clubs from English football has been submitted in an amendment to the Football Governance Bill.

The amendment to the legislation going through the House of Lords would prevent professional English clubs being owned or controlled by sovereign wealth funds or government ministers from any country, and as such require major change at Manchester City.

The move, which would have to be agreed by parliament, would mean that both Manchester City and Newcastle United would be forced to change ownership in order to be granted a licence by the regulator, as highlighted by The Times.

However, for the amendment to become law, it would also have to receive backing from MPs in the House of Commons, and Whitehall insiders insist the chance of the amendment being agreed is small, according to the report.

Pep Guardiola was recently keen to issue the ultimate praise on Manchester City’s ownership and Sheikh Mansour in particular, crediting their investment for being the reason behind the club’s remarkable rise over the last 15 years in particular.

“I think everyone knows the reason for (Manchester City’s) success is Sheikh Mansour,” Guardiola said during a recent media conference.

“When he took over and the direction of Ferran Soriano and all the people. All the players that have been here, and the backroom staff, contributed to put this Club where it is.”