Exclusive: City Football Group official’s Labour Conference trip made ‘in personal capacity’
A senior City Football Group official who attended the Labour party conference days after Manchester City were found guilty of over 100 Premier League charges has told City AM he was there in a personal capacity.
Chris Anderson, head of regulatory affairs at Manchester City parent company City Football Group, was among the delegates in Liverpool for the four-day conference, which began less than 48 hours after news of the guilty verdict emerged.
It comes amid close scrutiny of the relationship between Andy Burnham’s government and CFG’s Abu Dhabi owners, after the Prime Minister said he would be concerned if punishment of Manchester City caused them to sell up.
Anderson said: “There were no registered City Football Group delegates at the 2026 Labour Party conference. I am a Labour Party member and activist (Manchester Central CLP).
“I attended the recent conference in this capacity, as I have for the previous three Labour party conferences. I attended no meetings at the conference on behalf of City Football Group.”
Anderson joined City Football Group in 2022 to lead their engagement on regulatory affairs from DCMS, where he headed the Tracey Crouch Fan-Led Review of Football Governance which created the Independent Football Regulator.
The IFR has the power to strip improper owners of their responsibilities if they fall foul of standards, and could seek prison sentences and forced club sales.
It is not known whether other City Football Group employees attended the Labour Party Conference, or whether senior government officials held meetings with the club or its Abu Dhabi owners about the crisis looming over the Etihad Stadium. The Labour Party was approached for comment.
City Football Group, Burnham and Abu Dhabi
Anna Sabine, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for sport, said: “Football fans up and down the country deserve to know that the rules apply to everyone, no matter how rich, powerful, or politically connected they are.
“Andy Burnham must come clean and publish details of every meeting, conversation, and hospitality freebie involving City Football Group, Abu Dhabi representatives, or their lobbyists, both at conference and behind closed doors.”
PM Burnham’s dealings with Abu Dhabi date back to his time as Manchester Mayor, where investment from the UAE poured into not just Manchester City but property projects. He has insisted he will not try to interfere with the club’s possible sanctioning.
A deal struck over a decade ago reportedly gave the Abu Dhabi United Group – which is run by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan – effective first refusal of land in parts of Greater Manchester.
“That deal allowed development to be kick-started – particularly in the Ancoats area,” former Manchester City Council leader and honorary Manchester City club president Sir Richard Leese said of the deal.
“All of this was documented and went through reports that went through the council’s due processes. I think it has been demonstrated that the deal was a good deal and a good deal for Manchester.”