According to reporting by Adam Crafton of The Athletic, Davidson, an academic who studies Abu Dhabi, believes the alleged rule breaches at Manchester City FC could prompt the Abu Dhabi royal family to sell Manchester City FC to avoid ongoing reputational damage.
UK government intervention in Newcastle United takeover raises concerns
Some football fans worry that the English government could use political influence in Manchester City FC's case. These concerns are not unfounded, as the UK government has previously involved itself in sensitive Premier League matters.
Previously, The Athletic obtained 59 pages of emails from the UK Foreign Office through an investigation.
These emails revealed that in 2021, when Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) attempted to acquire Newcastle United FC, there was extensive communication between various UK government agencies and the Premier League.
Some documents indicated that the English government believed a failed Saudi takeover of Newcastle United FC would pose a "direct risk" to UK-Saudi relations.
Additionally, a senior adviser to then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson sought to contact high-level officials to communicate the government's interests to the Premier League.
Related documents also included details of the UK's International Trade Department plan to provide public relations support to all parties involved in the takeover.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has long faced criticism over serious alleged human rights violations.
However, Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters has previously confirmed that the government did not pressure the Premier League during the Newcastle United FC takeover.
The Premier League also denies that its final approval of the Saudi-led Newcastle United FC takeover was influenced by government intervention.
This week, multiple sources familiar with UK government operations acknowledged that developments in the Manchester City FC case would certainly make various government agencies uncomfortable.
However, these sources simultaneously affirmed that there should be enough people around the Prime Minister to remind him that large investment checks cannot be used as a pretext for violating Premier League rules.
Ultimately, the Premier League itself is one of England's most important soft power exports.
Indeed, since 2023, the UK government has acknowledged that the British embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London have discussed the Premier League's allegations against Manchester City FC.
However, the UK government refused to release related communications records following The Athletic's request, citing potential harm to UK-UAE relations.
Will Etihad Airways sue the Premier League? Will Manchester City FC's owners withdraw?
In recent days, Abu Dhabi has begun responding to allegations against Manchester City FC.
Etihad Airways has threatened to sue the Premier League.
Previously, an independent Premier League panel found that some of Manchester City FC's sponsorship agreements were sham transactions.
Although the panel report did not name Etihad Airways directly, the airline is Manchester City FC's most significant sponsor.
Mohammed Al Mazrouei, the long-serving former chairman of Etihad Airways, also served on Manchester City FC's board of directors from 2010 to 2021.
It remains unclear what steps Manchester City FC and its ownership group are prepared to take to prove their innocence.
Will club backers actually file a lawsuit? Will years of UAE investment in the UK be reconsidered? Could these investment relationships become leverage to pressure the English government? If genuinely under pressure, will the UK government hold firm?
As the case continues to unfold, scrutiny and pressure on Burnham will only intensify.
In an interview published this June, Mubarak clearly stated on Manchester City FC's official platform that the club had no plans to sell.
Mubarak said at the time: "We have no intention of selling Manchester City FC. Manchester City FC and this group are already at the pinnacle of world football, and such an asset is not for sale."
However, Davidson, an academic who studies Abu Dhabi, believes recent events may represent a turning point.
Davidson said: "When they have time to consider all of this, my assessment is that they might choose to exit."
"I believe this is primarily a matter of politics and culture. The Abu Dhabi royal family may feel that this verdict is embarrassing and damages their reputation."
"From their perspective, the best exit may be to sell the club now and cut losses in a timely manner, rather than allowing this issue to fester and persist indefinitely, spoiling their experience of owning a football club in England."
Davidson concluded: "I don't see how they can continue operating the club."
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