MANCHESTER CITY

Could UK government now target owner?

UK Foreign Office and opposition MP criticize Manchester City's owner, Sheikh Mansour, for links to Syria's Asaad and Russia's Putin.

The City owner, deputy prime minister of the UAE, met last week with Bassar al-Asaad, a close ally of Vladimir Putin.

The meeting was criticized by the UK's Foreign Office: "Strengthening ties undermines the prospect of a lasting and inclusive peace in Syria."

Labour MP Chris Bryant questioned if Sheikh Mansour was a “fit and proper person to be owning a football club."

"There’s been a form of barbarous, sustained murder going on in Syria, and now Putin is doing exactly the same against innocent Ukraine..."

“And some people want to meet up with the bully boys?” Bryant said in the House of Commons.

Bryant, who is also chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Russia, was one of the loudest voices in the successful action against Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

The London club cannot currently sell game tickets/merchandise, renew player contracts, and have limited travel budget, as a new owner is sought.

Despite the political noise, Guardiola and his players dispatched of Southampton in the FA Cup and now face Liverpool in the semi-final.

Some associated with the club are concerned the owner's background and actions may hurt their future ambitions, although nothing specific has yet been said by the government.

The Premier League holders face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. Could this affect their title chances?

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