The Aporia · Andy Burnham's deputy insists Manchester City trophies aren't 'tainted' and club should keep hold of 'hard fought for' titles despite being found guilty of 114 rule breaches

Lucy Powell, deputy leader of Labour and a Manchester City season ticket holder, defended the club's trophies as "hard fought for" despite being found guilty of 114 rule breaches by the Premier League. She spoke at a Labour conference fringe event in Liverpool, stating that she does not feel the trophies are tainted and is proud of them. Powell also took aim at Manchester United, dismissing calls from former manager Jose Mourinho to be awarded City's titles as unjustified.

Written by AI on 2026-09-28, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

Lucy Powell, deputy leader of Labour and a Manchester City season ticket holder, defended the club's recent trophies as "hard fought for" despite being found guilty of 114 rule breaches by the Premier League. The charges date back to the 2009-10 season following an Abu Dhabi takeover, during which time City won multiple major titles. While Prime Minister Andy Burnham cautioned against jumping to conclusions, Powell remained steadfast in her support for the club's right to keep their titles. Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has expressed continued confidence in proving the club's innocence.

Written for “Andy Burnham's Deputy Defends Manchester City Titles” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Andy Burnham's Deputy Defends Manchester City Titles

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- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Labour's deputy leader today insisted Manchester City's trophies are not 'tainted' and backed the club to keep hold of their titles despite financial rule breaches. asserted

trophies → see → breaches

Lucy Powell, a City season ticket holder, said the club's trophy wins in recent years were 'hard fought for' and that she remained 'proud' of the glut of silverware. asserted

she → say → silverware

She addressed questions over City's recent success following last week's news that the club had been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges laid by the Premier League in February 2023. asserted

club → address → February

The charges date back to the 2009-10 season, a year after a takeover of City by Abu Dhabi investors, since when the club has won multiple major trophies. asserted

club → date → trophies

City have always strenuously denied the charges and the club's chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, at the weekend said his 'confidence and intent in proving the club's innocence is just as strong as when this began'. asserted

this → deny → innocence

But there have been calls for City to be stripped of the trophies they won during the period the charges relate to, if they lose an appeal against the rule breaches. asserted

they → strip → breaches

Lucy Powell, a Manchester City season ticket holder, said the club's trophy wins in recent years were 'hard fought for' and that she remained 'proud' of the glut of silverware Ex-City manager Pep Guardiola (right) and club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak are pictured celebrating a Premier League title win in 2018 asserted

Guardiola → say → 2018

Asked on Monday whether she would be lobbying Prime Minister Andy Burnham for City to be allowed to keep those titles, Ms Powell replied: 'They were hard fought for trophies which I'm proud that we got.' asserted

we → ask → trophies

Speaking at a Labour conference fringe event in Liverpool, hosted by Politico, the party's deputy leader added: 'I don't feel they are tainted at all.' Ms Powell, who is also Education Secretary, went on to take a swipe at City's bitter rivals Manchester United in the wake of calls by ex-United manager Jose Mourinho for his former club to be awarded City's forfeited titles. asserted

club → speak → titles

'I think United were s*** in those years to be honest, as they still are now,' she added. asserted

she → think → years

'I don't think it was United they'd be going to. asserted

they → think → ?

Although I know obviously all the United fans are absolutely gleeful this week but I think you're going to have to try a bit harder really.' asserted

you → know → ?

Ms Powell's staunch defence of City's trophy wins contrasts with the response of both Mr Burnham and other Cabinet ministers. The PM last week warned people should not 'jump to conclusions' on City, when asked whether they should be stripped of their Premier League titles. He told ITV Granada Reports: 'I've only just been made aware of it – I think these are reports at this stage. asserted

these → contrast → stage

But if they're confirmed, obviously I will want to look at the report of the independent commission. asserted

I → confirm → commission

People shouldn't jump to those kind of conclusions (about City having their titles taken off them). asserted

titles → jump → them

'I know, this has been a long process between the club and the Premier League. asserted

I → know → club

I think quite a contested process. asserted

I → think → process

So I don't think it's as simple as jumping to conclusions. asserted

it → think → conclusions

I think we would all need to study the independent commission's report in some considerable detail before reaching any conclusions.' asserted

we → think → conclusions

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy told BBC Radio Five Live: 'We do have a way to go with this, it's very unsettling for football fans and I hope that it can be resolved as swiftly as possible.' asserted

it → tell → fans

Andy Burnham's deputy insists Manchester City trophies aren't 'tainted' and club should keep hold of 'hard fought for' titles despite being found guilty of 114 rule breaches

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