Why Sheikh Mansour could be 'forced to sell Man City' by British government

The British government have been urged to consider sanctions against Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan amid conflict in Sudan.

The Premier League side remain under investigation for over 115 charges for alleged financial fair play breaches, City have maintained they are not guilty on all accounts.

Mansour has transformed the Manchester side since completing his takeover in 2008, delivering eight Premier League titles, one Champions League crown, three FA Cups and seven League Cups.

The UAE-backed takeover has also seen major regeneration of the Eastlands area, including the re-developed Etihad Stadium. Manchester’s Co-Op Live arena is also housed alongside the National Cycling Centre and Velodrome as well as the National Squash Centre.

Conflict in Sudan has claimed at least 150,000 lives according to various aid agencies and the US government.

The British government are coming under increasing pressure from human rights organisation FairSquare to investigate Mansour’s role in the alleged support of the United Arab Emirates government to a paramilitary group accused of committing war crimes as per The Athletic.

The UAE strongly denies being a party to the conflict.

Sheikh Mansour could be forced to sell Manchester City

FairSquare claim if the UK government do decide to impose sanctions on Mansour, he would be disqualified from ownership of Manchester City under Premier League rules. They add their complaint has been taken directly to the Premier League and the new independent Football Regulator.

“If the UK government is serious about disrupting this horrendous conflict, Sheikh Mansour’s well-documented links to the RSF and his ownership of Manchester City provide a very obvious point of leverage”, said FairSquare director Nick McGeehan

The UK government set a precedent involving former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich who saw his assets frozen in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Chelsea were eventually sold to a consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital for over £4bn.

Abramovich and the UK government remain in a legal battle over the proceeds of the sale.

Any sanction imposed on Mansour would result in him breaching the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test.

The Athletic add they have contacted all three parties for comment on the allegations and none have responded at the time of writing.