Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak possesses diplomatic immunity, a status that could introduce complexities into any potential legal action stemming from the Premier League's case against the club. An independent commission recently found City guilty of nearly all charges, primarily concerning serious breaches of financial regulations between 2009 and 2018.
The commission concluded that City created "sham" commercial contracts as part of schemes to inflate revenue and conceal costs by more than £900m over a nine-year period. City has vehemently denied the verdict and is in the process of appealing, with the possibility of taking the case to the High Court if the initial decision is upheld.
Mubarak, a high-ranking official in the UAE government, was added to the UK's list of approved diplomats in 2020. This status provides him with immunity from criminal proceedings and most civil action in British courts. While names were redacted from the commission's initial judgment and Mubarak has not been directly accused of wrongdoing, his diplomatic status could complicate any resulting legal action.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed concern about the prospect of City's Abu Dhabi owners selling the club, praising their investment in Manchester. He also acknowledged that there is "a lot at stake" for the club and its supporters, but stated it would be inappropriate for him to intervene in the disciplinary process.