The story of Manchester City's guilty verdict so far... | Simon Jordan, Stefan Borson & MORE!

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Manchester City guilty verdict: sanctions, appeal and the fight over Premier League governance

This video looks at the fallout from the independent panel finding Manchester City guilty on almost all of the 115 financial charges, covering the likely sanctions, the appeal, other clubs’ calculations and whether PSR itself favours the established elite. The main judgment is that overturning the verdict on appeal will be very difficult, while the exact punishment still depends on the full decision and greater transparency. The later segments also cover whistleblower Rui Pinto losing witness protection and Enzo Maresca’s public backing of the club.

Relive the moment we found out Manchester City were guilty of financial breaches and later discovered the true extent of the story. talkSPORT brought you all the fallout from a series of unprecedented events. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT?subconfirmation=1 Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's X/Twitter: https://x.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 talkSPORT PremierLeague

Transcript

I do not see any offramp for Abu Dhabi here. >> If this is a glass house, people shouldn't throw stones. >> No, it's not one. >> And don't call me son either. >> I hate this idea that because I am sitting here, I have to bounce off the ceiling like a red top lunatic to say bloodlet. Hang them, draw them, quarter them. >> I'm here on 60 point deduction. 60 point deduction. >> The right moment to speak about that is when we're going to win this this appeal. some huge breaking news and Ben Jacobs uh brings it to us now. Ben, it it relates to Manchester City and the breaching of Premier League financial regulations. >> Yes. So, the independent panel ruling on Manchester City's 115 charges have found the club guilty on all but one. Now, when we say all but one, we don't necessarily mean 114 out of 115 because these charges, broadly speaking, are in different kinds of buckets that were then repeated year on year on year. But the vast majority of the charges against Manchester City are deemed to be enforcable and as a consequence the independent panel are now moving from guilt to sanctions and it's an ongoing process. Manchester City are waiting to see following being found guilty what the exact punishment is going to be and then from there they are expected to appeal. Now, a Manchester City spokesman has told Talk Sport that the Premier League process remains ongoing with quote significant elements still to be completed. And it's pointed out by club sources that this process remains strictly confidential. And as a result, Manchester City's position remains that they are innocent, remains that this case is still active. and Manchester City ad through a club spokesperson that the club has quote diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive committee would behave independently, impartially and fairmindedly and city still point to the fact that originally UEFA had found them guilty of certain elements and they were able to overturn that case as well. And yet my information is the Premier League are now confident of victory. They are confident of progress and at a shareholders meeting the other clubs were informed of this situation. So now we have to understand can City appeal and how quickly and what the exact sanctions will be. But the Premier League's expectation is that they will win this case against Manchester City and the vast majority of these 115 charges will be upheld. Uh joining us now, a man who's spoken about this a lot with Jim White Midm mornings and has watched it all unfold is our own Simon Jordan. Hi Simon. >> Hello fellas. Landed in your left lap, doesn't it? Landed right in your show. >> Oh, it's good. >> It only has >> We are the hard place for hard news. >> We are the home. We are the home of hard news as you know, Simon. Indeed. >> Yeah. Interesting to get your your your take on this. You did kind of sense it over the summer that this wasn't far off. Well, listen, we've had numbers of conversations over the last two or three years, including with Stephan Bourson, who I'm sure you'll speak to shortly, um, because he's been very much on the Man City side of the argument and debating the principles of it in the first place. I am surprised and unsurprised in equal measure. Um, I'm surprised that the Premier League and the Independent Commission has had the balls to make this decision because there was discussions being had and even David Bernstein, the former chairman of Manchester City, came on the other day fearing that political landscapes might find their way into influencing decisions. So I'm surprised they had the courage to do it. Unsurprised because I always thought Man City had a case to answer. And there's a part of me without wanting to have any sort of vindictiveness towards Man City that thinks this is possibly a good thing because whilst Man City will put forward the argument that they were found guilty by UEFA and then cleared by Cass, that's a reframing of the circumstances to some extent because the the scope of what they were asked to contend with under the cash arbitration was slightly different to what UEFA found them guilty of in the first instance. So, it'll be interesting to see how Man City play the appeal out, but they are now in significant trouble because I don't think that an appeal is going to be particularly fruitful for them. I don't think it's going to produce a different outcome. And it's now going to be a fascinating scenario, boys, to see how the Premier League, it's an interesting terminology that Ben Jacobs used a minute ago about the Premier League see as victory because the Premier League is now eating its own and it's now effectively discrediting its champions uh and one of arguably one of the most significant champions in recent times. So, it'll be fascinating to see given that we've just seen a stitch up with Chelsea doing a deal with the Premier League's uh you know independent commissions or more more to the point the Premier League in of itself around the the findings of their behavior under Roman Abramovich and taking a 10 million pound fine how they're going to deal with the big question now which is what is the sanction what does the sanctions look like because this is now reputational ational harm beyond all reputational harm. This project wasn't just about football. This was about a nation state utilizing sport to create favorable outcomes. That's all now being bismerched. You know, it makes the interesting dynamic and I said it during the summer. I wonder why Pep Guardiola left because Pep Guardiola suggested that he wouldn't stay if the things that he was told >> weren't the truth. Funny that he went this summer, isn't it? Interesting. Interesting times, gentlemen. Interesting times. >> Yeah. And also, we were saying the amount of players that they brought in in the summer. Yeah. Big. You know, they did stockpile to an extent. Simon, if >> the other clubs will have something to say about it, won't they Edon and Villa and people like >> That's the question I wanted to put to Simon. If you were one of the other chairman in that room, the other Premier League chairman, Simon, would you want your pound of flesh or would you worry about that reputational damage to the league? >> Well, I I think the reputational damage has already been done. Now it's about how much appetite there is for bloodletting. There will be no doubt about it. Maybe some of the voices are no longer in those boardrooms and one of them may have already departed in recent times that would have felt that there needed to be some degree of retribution for behavior. Um, and now that that behavior has been called out uh and put for a framework and and and and adjudicated upon, I would imagine you might see a little bit more favorousness from certain boardrooms that might have been prepared to stay in the background. certain boardrooms I know that I'm not going to break confidences that were unhappy with the Chelsea situation but they knew where their bread was buttered because the broadcast rights of the of the Premier League are seeded in the Chelsea's Liverpool's Man cities Arsenals and so on and so forth you know the so-called big six that the broadcast rights pay for so they know that they're getting a big slice of a pie that they might get a smaller slice if the pie was smaller um in terms of monies so they kept their council but this is going to be fascinating it is seismic for English football. It is seismic for Man City. And of course, Man City are going to go into full reputational damage limitation mode now >> and try and find a way to spin the narrative. I cannot see and it'll be interesting to see what someone very very very well clued up and versed in legal processes, Stephan B. I'm sure you'll have him on shortly suggests about the process. >> Um because I cannot see where an appeal in this there's no there's no court of arbitration sport outcome. They can't go round the Premier League and go outside of the framework and go to the court of arbitration and sport. They have to stay within that framework. So I don't see a protractive period of time for an appeal to be kicked into the long grass, all manner of subtifuge thrown up into the air. So people start to look in different directions. The appeal I think is going to be very clear and but by the basis of what they've been found guilty of is going to be a buggers muddle for Man City to find their [laughter] way through this. >> I think that's the final question to you Simon. There people have been very frustrated, fans of other clubs and a lot of people out there frustrated by the fact this has been such a long process. So you're expecting really the the sanctions being handed down, the appeal and the whole process now to be relatively swift compared with what? >> Well, I I think process I think you're better served asking process of Stefan when he comes on if he comes on, right? Because then you'll see how whether you get the cart in front of the horse um and whether they are going to sanction before appeal and whether the process the the the the list of events and how they determine the schedule is determined in a certain way because we might not see the sanctions until the appeal. Um that might will be the orders. Stephan perhaps will tell you that. But you know I it will be fascinating to see how they handle this because it's going to be difficult to see how they can fluff their lines, how they can not throw the most significant sanctions at Manchester City and N Gallagher. God love you mate. >> Yeah, [laughter] that's true. I'm sure I wonder if he'll be on with the boys on dry. >> I don't think so. [laughter] >> Simon, have a good weekend. Appreciate you joining us. Thanks for coming on. Cheers. >> Gary is a City fan and this is who this is affecting the most. Gary, uh, thanks for your call. Where are you at with the whole situation and particularly reaction to the the statement that's come out from your chairman? >> Well, I'm absolutely disgusted with what I'm hearing on the radio. Are you judge, jury, and executioner? Oh, see, get them relegated. Uh, deduct 100 points. All the players are at fault. Peps at fault. I I haven't I haven't said the players or pets at fault whatsoever. >> Let me have me Let me have me say >> just make sure it's accurate. >> Make sure it's accurate cuz I've not said that. >> Let me have me say before you cut me off. >> Make sure it's accurate then. >> Right. Okay. So, there's an appeals process that's in place. No sanctions have been issued yet. So, to start talking about 100 points, relegate them. You know, there's a fan base there of hundred and odd years that have supported this club loyally. We've got a chairman that came out and said nothing was unto odds. It was a well-known fact. Everybody, you >> It's not a well-known fact. I think that's conjecture. I mean, what I would what I would ask you until it's looked into. >> All right. Well, if you want to publish your research, please feel free to do so. But >> Oh, absolutely. Like it'll get published. >> Well, if you if you feel that you've got evidence to support that, then you're more than welcome to do it. But currently, right now, your football fan. >> I tried to ring up your place with tons of evidence. You never let city fans on. >> Well, Gary, you are a Manchester City fan. You're currently on Talk Sport, but Manchester City are the topic because they've been accused of corporate fraud over a long period of time, which has led to an unprecedented level of success. And now that you have been found guilty, according to multiple reports, we're asking what should the punishment be? So, what do you think is an appropriate punishment for cheating? >> Hang on. This came from Dur Spiegel and and hacked email. So from an hacked email, City were went after. Well, we should hack an email to United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and all the other clubs and we should have all them investigated because if this is a glass house, people shouldn't throw stones. >> Gary, you're point you're pointing a lot of fingers. It sounds a bit like to me it's Liverpool. >> You're pointing fingers, Gary. It's it's almost like, you know, someone it's like if someone someone's partner catches they they check their phone and they've been cheating on them. They can see it on their phone and then the person's angry that they've been looking at their phone, not that the fact that they've been cheating. But again, you can point fingers, but >> Gary, to be fair, there was a story. Look, I I'm I'm I'm somewhere in the middle here because I do think that he's um you know, I I feel his passion. It's great that he's defending the club anyway. Chelsea were allowed to the rules meant when Svanch came in in 2003 they they were allowed to and perhaps because of that that the Premier League didn't want another >> well and the big difference is Chelsea self when when clearly came in they saw all of this they reported it and that's why the sanction has been a lot softer people say it's still a light touch but it's a totally different stratosphere to what to what city >> No it is and and look I Gary should come out with evidence if he has got it I I would imagine there are more than one other clubs who have done something of something similar. It's just not been hacked into. But until the evidence is there, we we we can't talk about that. >> Well, exactly. And until the evidence is there, focus on yourself. >> And whatever Gary says, even though again, I'm not as as outraged. I of course it it cannot be done. And the rules are the rules for me. the rules have to be changed first and foremost because the rules don't allow again I go back to what we're saying the villas Newcastle's forest to be able to do and the cities to be able to try and challenge the the big boys in the way they have and they felt they had to do it they're wrong it looks like although they have got an appeal that they are guilty let's wait to see what the appeal says the bottom line is >> it looks like they're in a not good place and you listen to very respected people on talk sport who know what they're talking about from a financial point of view and they're saying they've got nowhere to go so it's fascinating to see how it will turn out. >> Yeah, absolutely. Now, let's um let's talk to Rob, the Arsenal fan. Um Rob, how do you feel about this? We've heard from an outraged City fan that's pointing the finger at everybody else. Um we've heard from a Forest fan who wants them to be deducted all the points that they've sustained during that period. We do think that's a little bit harsh. Where are you at, mate? >> Hey guys. So, thanks. Thanks for letting me on. Brilliant show as always. Just got a couple of points to make. I guess as an Arsenal fan, I just think it just stripping City of titles is what should be done. Handing them out retrospectively to who finish second, it's get it gets too messy, I think, with what happens both at the top and the bottom of the table. So, I think stripping the titles in in my opinion would make sense. Secondly, I also completely agree with with everyone on this that the Premier League haven't got a clue when PSR came into place. every every club should be able to spend what they want to spend and it's completely wrong that clubs like Villa and Newcastle are not in the same place as say you know the big six us included and I don't think that's wrong and that seriously needs to be looked at however city have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar and what we need to do is we need to make in my opinion again they've been proven that to be guilty of 114 charges and what needs to happen is this has to be there has to be deterrent to make sure it never ever ever happens again. So, in my opinion, it should be relegation either to League One or League Two, 5-year transfer embargo, and anyone who's found complicit in the wrongdoing should be banned from football from life. That's my opinion. >> And Rob, I mean, you you make an interesting point because Scott, you you've been saying that um that would be quite harsh to relegate them, but >> No, I think I I don't have a problem with relegation. I do have a problem with more than one division. Okay. >> Um that's my issue. I understand what Rob say. I mean, an Arsenal fan would love City to to be divisions down, but I I say that only sort of jokingly. Rob, look, >> sorry, I don't know. I'd love to see rivalry between Arsenal and City. >> I love those games. I love being up for them. It's not about >> No, I know. I know. I'm I'm being facicious. >> All I'm saying is it has to be a big enough deterrent. I think with a club like City to the Championship for one year, I don't think that's enough of a deterrent. Even with a transfer embargo, this has to make an example unfortunately, if you want to use those words, for City because they the one that's done it. Just make sure it never ever ever in the history because it's it's it's inte it's the integrity of football and that's like the City fan just came on before. >> I didn't realize the football and and the Premier League had 100% integrity, but sorry Rob, go on. No, I was just going to say again, I'm not trying to knock city fans here because they're the ones that that will obviously suffer, but I haven't, unless I'm mistaken, heard a single City fan so far who said, "Look, you know, if we if we found to be done wrong, we need to take our punishment. It's been denied, deny, deny from their club for three years. The the charges or the report came out yesterday and it's still denied, deny, deflect." And it's continuing. And I think that's why people have issues with having sympathy with the fans because of, you know, the attitude. I guess the guy that was on yesterday was like throw mud everywhere else. Maybe enough so it doesn't stick with us and that that that doesn't feel right. If you hold your hands up, look, we we've done wrong and I guess that that didn't quite sit right here in the guard performance. >> Yeah. Well, I I agree and obviously you heard that interaction, but I would say that we did have this morning um I forgot the man the man's name, but I follow his content. He's he's from a steamed company and he was on the weekend sports breakfast show this morning and he was clearly incredibly downcast about what happened. And he did say to effect that if they are found to be guilty of these charges then then they deserve the punishment. >> But what is the punishment? >> Well well they deserve a significant punishment. Yeah. And and of course that people are always always going to have different views about about different punishments. But I I don't think despite the fact the tirade of absolute vitual we've heard from that previous city fan. I don't think that that's necessarily representative of most Manchester City fans who will be waking up this morning devastated and listening to this show thinking, well, Criy Moses, if it is that serious, then there needs to be a punishment. >> Yeah. >> And so, look, we will see. It's important to say that Manchester City say the Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements to be completed subject to strict confidentiality. They believe and continue to maintain their innocence. >> Good, good call from Rob there by the a very very sensible Arsenal fan. But I I don't believe the Premier League. I mean, it's not the Premier League. It's it's it's supposedly an independent panel, but they must have there must be some kind of influence from the Premier League cuz the last thing the Premier League want of course they want to be seen whiter than white, but it's not about actually, as much as we can sort of sit in our high horse and say, "Yeah, the Premier League should be number one thing is to be seen white and white." No, the Premier League is to be seen as the the the best league in