Manchester City could face historic punishment

Global News Podcast

This episode of the Global News Podcast covers a series of high-stakes international developments, ranging from Manchester City's guilty verdict in financial

Key takeaways

• Manchester City has been found guilty of the majority of 115 charges regarding financial rule breaches in the Premier League.
• Iran has proposed a seven-day plan via Qatari mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if specific conditions are met.

Main topics

• Manchester City financial scandal
• Iran-US maritime diplomacy

Notable quotes

The choice now rests with the United States.

Conclusion

The episode highlights how legal, technological, and geopolitical shif

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:00) This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Speaker 3 (0:27) So is there even space for spirituality in today's China? Join us twice a week. Search for Asia Specific wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Speaker 5 (0:39) Welcome to the Haunted Library. Have you come in search of a tale? This podcast invites you to browse the shelves and find stories that will linger long after you've left this place. From gothic masterpieces to pulpy penny dreadfuls, join me, Colin Morgan, with new episodes twice a week. Find The Haunted Library wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 1 (1:07) This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. Speaker 1 (1:13) Hello, I'm Ankur 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, is 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 of Sudanese refugees fleeing the country's civil war for neighbouring Chad. Speaker 1 (1:43) 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. Speaker 1 (2:09) 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. Speaker 2 (2:38) 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 4 (3:26) Regardless of what happens, we're City fan first and foremost. Do I agree with the rules? No. But if they've broke the rules, then they've broke the rules. I don't want to say something's been tainted. We're not at the bottom of this. There's still things to Speaker 2 (3:40) go Speaker 4 (3:40) on in the background. Speaker 2 (3:41) 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. 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. Speaker 1 (4:40) 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. So this is going to be a severe punishment. Speaker 4 (4:51) It's an absolutely seismic case. It goes across nine years. of continual misconduct if it is indeed 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, 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. Speaker 1 (5:22) 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. Speaker 4 (5:41) Yeah, this is going to be absolutely massive because... If you look at two years ago, several Premier League clubs said that they would reserve the right to take action to get financial compensation should Manchester City be found guilty. Now, we're not just talking here about Manchester United and Liverpool who missed out on the Premier League title in the three years that Manchester City won it in this period. It's about the teams that finished just outside the Champions League places, the teams that missed out on Europe, and as you mentioned, the teams that were relegated. There are so many implications here. And when you consider that early this year, Burnley were awarded £35 million from Everton because they got relegated in one year when Everton had a PSR breach. And that was just a few points. And that's one team. Can you imagine the potential size of compensation Manchester City might have to pay out if this does turn out as it seems to be with them being found guilty and having to face these claims for compensation? Speaker 1 (6:39) Our football correspondent Dale Johnson. Iran's foreign minister says his country has proposed a deal to the U.S. to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if certain conditions are met. The closure of the waterway has caused oil and gas prices to soar, causing hardship for millions of people around the world. Abbas Araqi, speaking at the U.N. in New York, said the choice now rests with the United States. Speaker 8 (7:04) Iran has conveyed to the United States through Qatar, a concrete seven-day plan. If the necessary conditions are met, the Strait can be reopened, a normal