The British government criticizes the meeting of Sheikh Mansour Al Nahyan, owner of Manchester City, with the Syrian president in the Emirates

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, owner of English club Manchester City, has been criticized by the UK government for his recent meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

A foreign ministry spokesman said such meetings "undermine the prospects" for peace in Syria.

And Chris Bryant, the Labor MP in the British Parliament, commented on this meeting, in an interview with the Telegraph, by asking if Mansour was "a decent and fit person to own a football club."

In the first visit of the Syrian president to the UAE in 11 years, Assad met last week with many prominent figures there, including Sheikh Mansour, who is the deputy prime minister.