Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, recently said he did not want the club's Emirati owners to walk away as a result of the case. (Reuters pic)

LONDON: Downing Street said Thursday that Manchester City were not "above the rules" following criticism of British prime minister Andy Burnham for his comments about the club's breaches of Premier League financial rules.

In a statement, a No 10 spokesperson said: "As the prime minister made clear, the initial judgement is serious and there can't be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules."

Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, told the BBC on Wednesday he did not want to see the club's Emirati owners walk away as a result of the case.