Manchester City charges latest as PM clarifies his position | Paper Talk
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Hello there, time now [music] for paper talk here on Sky Sports News, bringing you a first look at the sports stories in the morning's newspapers. Joining us are the Mirror's chief football writer, John Cross, and the i paper's chief football writer, Daniel Story, [music] as well. Welcome to you both, gents. Let's run you through the back pages. No surprise, Manchester City and the charges case dominate the agenda. The Mirror splash [music] with untrue City appeal evidence already KO'd by commission. The Express leads [music] with City's shaky defense as City's lawyers look set to argue that the Abu Dhabi government provided [music] funding at the heart of the Premier League dispute and not the owners. Deja [music] blue, City stick with leaky defense already dismissed as untrue. That's in the Star. Okay, John, Daniel, really good to see you once again here on Paper Talk. Let's start with your paper, the Mirror, John. Manchester City will launch an appeal based on evidence which has already been branded untrue by the Premier League's independent commission. How's this worked, John? How can they submit evidence again that's already been dismissed? What's your take? >> Well, that is their right. Um Friday is the deadline for the appeal, just as we know. Um Manchester City will certainly make that appeal. They've made that a very clear and it will center upon uh their claim that um and by the way, they're so convinced and you know, to to you know, to to many actually sort of kind of convincing as well that they will clear their name and prove their innocence and that their claim will center around um the fact that they they say that the the deals were actually funded by the Abu Dhabi government rather than they directly from the the um club's owner, Sheikh Mansour. Um Now, I you know, it's it's interesting really because obviously Sheikh Mansour is vice president, deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, as well as owner of the Abu Dhabi United Group, which controls City. Now, the heart of this, the original thing was that that obviously this claim that some of the deals were topped up and and were labeled, weren't they, sham by by the Premier League. Well, City will go to the heart of that, they say, and and actually counter-claim that. And they believe that they have a wealth of evidence that that is indeed the case. And go further and they actually sort of say, "Look, it was Sheikh Mansour, sorry, the government rather than Sheikh Mansour, who actually topped up the these these payments." It's a complex argument. It's made even more difficult and I guess because it has been in the original judgment, that 40-page document, that legal document that that that we all saw on Tuesday, it originally it was labeled untrue by that commission. They have the right to appeal. A three-person appeal board will be set up and and hear the evidence and the counter-evidence, really. City believe that they have got irrefutable evidence that Ferran Soriano has stated to staff this week that they will actually counter-prove it and show that their original information was indeed correct. And actually the the the sponsorship deals came from, you know, the right place and they were entitled to do that, really. So, their appeal centers on that. It's yet another strand in the remarkable story and another twist, really, which is reminiscent, really, of a political kind of thriller and and scandal, isn't it? And I think in amongst this coverage, I think we should also reflect that this story is going to run and run. I mean, the idea that the appeal, I think, is going to be heard before the end of the season it is is really sort of kind of fantasy. I do think that City is so determined to prove their innocence. They they are absolutely adamant that they will and that they will prevail in their appeal. And I don't expect that that case to be dealt with anytime soon. I do think it's going to go beyond the end of the season, which is seriously bad news for for the Premier League. >> Yeah, a lot of the sports pages coming from the same angle on this and they're focusing on this detail within City's appeal, Daniel. Let's go to the Daily Express. City's shaky defense. Club plan plan to reheat claim that sham cash came from Abu Dhabi government, not the owner Mansour. So, we've heard repeatedly from City that they have this body of irrefutable evidence, Daniel. Could it be the case where they have more evidence to to add to their appeal that we haven't quite heard about yet, that hasn't come out? >> We we will find out. And I think we will find out, as John said, quite a long way down the line. The interesting thing John alluded to it rightly in his comments is that the original independent commission saw this evidence. They Their explanation was that they they they believe it untrue because they they say that um what City are claiming or claimed at that point was actually kind of refitted after the fact. It was made an explanation after the fact rather than at the time. That that was the conclusion of the original independent commission. Now, again, as John says, this will be a new appeal board. This will be a a new three-person panel of of judges and they they will have to convince those people in a way that they didn't convince the original three. I think that's a pretty obvious statement because 114 of the 115 charges were were found guilty. Um it seems from everything we hear, a pretty big ask um to to cause enough of a shift to overturn a significant number of the charges, but they are being bullish about this. They are saying that they they can do it and they will do it. They have said that all the way through. They were wrong in the first instance because they did, you know, they were unsuccessful on the original independent commission. We will see what happens in the second one, but yes, you know, I I think I joked on a podcast the other day that if this is all sorted by the Euro 2028 final, we've probably all done well and it was said slightly tongue-in-cheek, but the more it goes on, the more I'm inclined to think that maybe that's about right. >> Well, that's what a lot of people I think are asking now, how long this will go on for. In the Star, again, a similar angle to the other papers I've mentioned, déjà blue, City stick with leaky defense, already dismissed as untrue. A lot of people will be asking though, John, how long this is now going to go on for. Uh talking to you here on Thursday evening, we know the appeal day is Friday, that's the deadline. How long will this run for? As we know, City will appeal this, they've said that. How long will this whole process take to come to conclusion? >> Well, that that's exactly it, Jess. I don't think there's a set time scale. I don't think there's a set time frame for any of it. And I think people have to keep in mind that you know, the the allegations first came to light in 2018. The Premier League first brought the charges in in February 20 23. You know, and here we are at this point, only on Tuesday did they publish the kind of the legal document and their and their findings and the original, you know, and the original verdict which City are now appealing. So, yes, I mean, in in his statement the other day, Richard Masters, the chief executive of the Premier League, was saying, we you know, we want to resolve this as quickly as possible and as soon as possible. And understandably, because it's a nightmare scenario that Manchester City have at this point been found guilty and are leading the Premier League title race. They could be crowned champions with this hanging over their heads. You know, and and basically Gary Neville said on the overlap podcast this week, didn't he, which I don't know has made a few papers today that that that has dragged the Premier League through the mud. And and really it will continue to do so, you know, but while this is going on. In an ideal world, of course you want it resolved quickly. But City are so adamant and so determined to prove their innocence that of course they're going to bring out the big gun lawyers as as you would expect them to do, argue their case. They believe that they have irrefutable evidence. They believe that they will overturn this verdict. And they they will stop at nothing and certainly no timeline to try and do that. So, you know, I don't think that we can possibly look at it before the end of the season, which I think is a great shame for the Premier League. And it wouldn't surprise me if it runs into one stroke two years. It really wouldn't. I think this this story's got a long way to go yet. >> Yeah, with wide-ranging ramifications as well. And there's a lot of people caught up in this, isn't there, Daniel? A lot of people that have would have had nothing to do with the situation, but are impacted, like players, fans, staff at the club. How might they be feeling about all this? >> Yeah, it's it's a fascinating question because it it sort of has no answer, right? You know, in an ideal world we'd say well, football can't really carry on until this is sorted because how do you know what you're watching? You know, how can you kind of watch the Premier League in the same way with Manchester City top of the league and this hanging over them? But that's not how football works that you know, the show must go on. It has to go on because if you there's there's no you know, there's no mechanism for stopping it because this will take a long time. We have to make the the of a of a difficult and uncomfortable situation. Unfortunately, that goes for players, it goes for coaches, it goes for employees, it goes for all of those other clubs who potentially will be impacted by this. And that you know, without wanting to you know, be too downbeat about how long this could take. We have the appeal process. If the appeal is unsuccessful, we then have a period of of sanctioning. We then also potentially have a situation where all of those clubs who feel that you know, they were put in a an improper position by what has happened, they consider their options and there may be action then. It's just a such a snowball effect that yeah, it's it's completely unprecedented. We can't do anything but wait and yet the hardest thing to do is for us all is to wait. >> Yeah, and look, this is why it is dominating the sports pages of pretty much every single newspaper. The The Telegraph as well revealed Abu Dhabi regime claim at heart of City's appeal. Look, John, we we we don't know how long it's going to go on for. We don't know when it's going to come to a conclusion, but as this drags on and on, what impact could it have not just on Manchester City's reputation, but the Premier League's reputation around the world as well? >> Uh it's huge, Jess, honestly. I I think we pride ourselves, don't we, on the Premier League being the best league in the world. I I think we look upon it it's it's a global industry. It's it's a fantastic marketing you know, tour really. It's brilliant for the country. It is incredibly engaging. I mean, it's absolutely unmissable. The drama you know, I do think it's the best and the most exciting league in the world. But people will be looking on far and wide and saying, "Well, what's happened there?" You know, it's it is we are living in the middle of I think the biggest sports scandal to ever hit this country. It's certainly the biggest British sports scandal in British sport, I think really. And you know, we just don't know the outcome of it. And I think that it in itself is so damaging the way that we view the Premier League. And that's why the Premier League, you know, are desperate to get on with it and just desperate to move forward. But you know, equal to that, you understood, I certainly did, that it gave the findings that we revealed on on on on on Tuesday that we saw were were so in-depth, were so detailed that I think it gave some context and understanding and meaning to the delay. Of course, no one wanted to drag on, you know, 3 and 1/2 years or whatever it was. Of course not. That that's the nightmare scenario. But at least we could begin to understand the arguments and the counter arguments. And I think we're incredibly naive to think that won't happen again with the appeal. And while that happens, it damages the Premier League standing and status, I think. And that's such a shame because so many great teams, so many great games. But we have to accept that at the moment, I'm afraid, we are in a state of limbo. And that is not a good look for the Premier League on on any front. >> Yeah, Daniel John there describing it as one of the biggest British sporting scandals that we've seen. And and as such, our Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made some comments about this. And he made the comments on on Wednesday, received a bit of criticism about the comments he made on Wednesday. What do you make of the fact that he felt it necessary to then try and clarify those comments the next day by way of a a statement via a spokesperson. Did that indicate any way in that he was perhaps retracting what he had originally said? Is there a level of embarrassment there from what he originally said? What's your take? >> I think it certainly reflects there's an element of of mixed messaging, or perhaps he would say misinterpreted um translation of his messaging. You don't you know, Prime Ministers don't rephrase statements unless they want to get a message across. I actually think the second message wasn't you know, it was better but it wasn't perfect because he talked about if Manchester City are found guilty of wrongdoing which as we stand now they have been found guilty of wrongdoing. That has already happened. It is he is right pending appeal but as it stands they have been found guilty. Um the Prime Minister is in a very difficult position because this is a potentially a geopolitical issue. You know, surrounding the UAE's interest in in British culture, in British finance, in British industry, in the section of the country around the Etihad Stadium where there's been mass investment from Manchester City's owners. Mr. Burnham was mayor of Manchester so there is a lot going on here. It's not very easy for a Prime Minister in something like this to make a statement that everybody agrees with. My personal view is he got it wrong in the first one and that the second statement is better but not perfect but he is in a very tricky political position to say anything. It's one of those things where his his answer wants to be no comment. I have got nothing to say until this has reached the end of its course but he knows as well as anyone that that could take a long time and that as leader of the country and as a football fan of a Premier League club people are expecting him to say something and it's very hard to do that and to please everybody. >> Yeah and people will continue to have their opinions won't they and it will be something that we continue to cover here on Paper Talk. A reminder though that of course Manchester City have denied all charges against them and they have said that they have a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that will clear them of any wrongdoing. John Daniel thank you for the moment. We're going to take a quick break. When we come back [music] we'll be looking at more of the sports stories in the morning's papers including this in the mirror. Who will follow in the footsteps of England [music] striker Harry Kane? Is there anybody out there? >> He could very easily be absolutely knocking goals in you know for club and country obviously for Bayern Munich in in in Germany as well. 73 last season. Prolific as ever, you know, two goals. Even the other night you know I was in Prague and I'm in Rejkavik now sort of following England. The other night he didn't have his greatest game but he still scores. You know, he's just relentless and he's absolutely brilliant. And I you know, absolutely love him. He's an absolute national treasure. I think he's wonderful. I think it'd be absolutely disgraceful if he doesn't win the Ballon d'Or. Um but then who who replaces him? You know, Thomas Tuchel raised it the other night so we might have to wait for 10 years. Jude Bellingham might be a possibility. And listen, in all honesty England did really play a 4-4-2 for the majority of the World Cup. We just didn't really acknowledge it properly at the time. Um so it is interesting. There's an amazing stat that I do think that Johnny Northcroft actually first threw up from The Times um which is that um the only striker under the age of 27 to have scored a Champions League goal eligible for England is Liam Delap which is an astonishing stat which talks to the fact that we just do not have enough England center forwards playing to the highest level. Why? I think one of the reasons is you know, the the ratio. The ratio is very low just above 27% of English players in Premier League's um starting 11s this season. That's low. That's definitely a factor. Academy coaching is much more into feet than center forwards. So I think that's another factor in the way that they're being brought up. I do try and bring up a couple of sort of kind of um ones for the future. Brian Brobbey from Aston Villa who scored in the European Super Cup final. Um Ali Rodriguez, Vincent Janssen. They're they're ones for the future perhaps. Will Lankshear maybe following the Harry Kane route might be a more immediate one. But I tell you what, it is a worry. There's no one really particularly close I don't think to to to step into Harry Kane's boots when the dreadful day when he actually retires cuz it will be a dreadful day for England, I think. >> Oh, he's loved by so many, isn't he? And he's been absolutely prolific for club and country. But uh to to to to give the other side of this story, Daniel, I I wonder is a number nine needed anymore in modern football? You know, there's a lot of teams uh performing on the top level international level, club level that don't play with a number nine. >> Yeah, it's funny. What during that England-Spain game the other night when Anthony Gordon surged through for that brilliant England goal um for a moment my brain tricked me into thinking that was Harry Kane dashing through with the blonde hair. Uh not at that speed. And Gordon is, I suspect in Tite Show's mind, the next cab off the rank in that if he wants to play this you know, more slightly more fearless football, then Gordon can dip out onto the left in possession and beat his man there. But on the counter as John says, we've got Bellingham pushing on and then we've got Gordon kind of overlapping. And that's where that goal came from against Spain. I think Gordon's pace scares opponents. Uh I think after Kane, look, there's two options here. We're never going to be able to replace Kane. We're never going to find a center forward as good. I think Liam Delap is probably the closest and he's so far away, you know, slightly scares everybody because he's not ready yet. He needs to play well at Forest and then he needs to get a chance with England. But he's not there yet. >> Okay. >> So, if you can't replace Kane, it has to be another option. Whether that's short term, medium term, or long term. If If as Tite Show says, it takes 10 years and it probably is Anthony Gordon. He's He's He's been England's best player in this international break, which really, really helps the case. But it's it's not perfect. So, yeah, wrap Harry Kane in cotton wool for as long as we can. >> Talking of wrapping up in cotton wool, there's an update on the England squad in the fact that Nico O'Reilly now has gone back to Manchester City because of an injury, so he won't play any part in the final two Nations League games, John. Is it a surprise, perhaps, that there isn't going to be a replacement for him? >> Yeah, maybe. I do think this is is, you know, is going to divide opinion, and I do think it would d