Manchester City could face historic punishment

Unko Desai (0:00)

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. Hello, I'm Uncle Desai, and in the early hours of Saturday, the 26th of September, these are our main stories. One of the world's richest football clubs, Manchester City, has found guilty of dozens of breaches of financial rules. Iran offers a deal to the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, linked to an end to all fighting in the region. And the UN says there has been a sharp increase in Sudanese refugees fleeing the country's civil war for neighbouring Chad. Also in this podcast, FBI agents tell the BBC of their shock, fear and anger, following a hack that threatens to expose highly sensitive personal data. And we're in Paris.

For day one of four of a state visit by Pope Leo, who warns followers against the dangers of artificial intelligence.

We start the podcast with the bombshell verdict that has rocked the world of English football. The team that lit up television screens and dominated the Premier League for 10 years under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City has been found guilty of repeatedly breaking financial rules. It marks the biggest disciplinary case in the history of the sport, with the club found guilty on almost all of the 115 charges against it. With more, here's our sports editor, Dan Rowan.

Dan Rowan (1:30)

Over the past decade, Manchester City have enjoyed an era of unprecedented success. The only English club in history to have won the top division title four times in a row. But for years now, a cloud has hung above the Etihad. City accused of a catalogue of financial rule violations by the very competition they dominated for so long.

And today finally came seismic news. City found guilty of the majority of 115 charges.

In a statement, the club said, The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed. The club has diligently respected due process for eight years, on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator free from partisan influence. This the reaction of fans outside the Etihad.

SPEAKER_3 (2:18)

Regardless what happens, the city found first and foremost.

SPEAKER_4 (2:21)

Do I agree with the rules?

SPEAKER_3 (2:22)

No, but if they broke the rules, then they broke the rules. I don't want to say something's been tainted when we're not at the bottom of this. There's still, you know, things to go on in the background.

Dale Johnson (2:32)

It's a big club. They've got the infrastructure to fight it. They've got the money. I think it'll be all right.

Dan Rowan (2:37)

So, how did we get here? In February 2023, City faced a catalogue of alleged breaches of the Premier League rulebook. 54 charges over a failure to provide accurate financial information across nine seasons, and 14 more over a failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments over the same period. They were also accused of 12 counts of failing to comply with both UEFA and Premier League financial rules, and 35 charges of failing to cooperate with the Premier League's investigation. The saga began back in 2008, when City's fortunes were transformed after it was bought by Sheikh Mansour, a billionaire member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family. His wealth secured some of the world's best players and a first Premier League title in 2012

Finally, football appears to have one of its biggest ever results, but with no news of a sanction and City set to appeal, the saga is far from over.

Unko Desai (3:32)

So what next for Manchester City? And what could be the wider consequences for the English Premier League? I asked our football correspondent, Dale Johnson.

Dale Johnson (3:41)

So this is going to be a severe punishment, is an absolutely seismic case. It goes across nine years of continual misconduct, if it isn't proven and they don't win an appeal. So there are a few things that are open to the disciplinary panel. It's a points deduction, a financial penalties or removal from the Premier League. Now removal from the Premier League sounds unlikely, but a points deduction, because of the gravity of this and because they have failed to comply throughout, it seems highly likely there will be a heavy points deduction that will be meted out from the disciplinary commission.

Unko Desai (4:14)

And Dale, I guess the domino effect could be that once the formal process is done, there could be wider implications with other clubs wanting to, I guess, settle some scores. They might feel as though they've missed out on titles or income if they didn't qualify for Europe or maybe loss of money because they got relegated into another division. Floodgates could essentially open.