Manchester City confirm appeal lodged against claims | Paper Talk
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[music] Hello there. Time now for paper talk here [music] on Sky Sports News, bringing you a first look at the sports stories in the morning's newspapers. Joining [music] us are Lori Whitwell of The Athletic and the Times chief sports reporter Martin Ziegler as well. Welcome to you both. [music] Let's run you through some of the headlines in the papers. And yes, once again, Manchester City dominate. First [music] to the star, their headline is I'll be there for blue. Guardiola [music] plots shock return to the Etihad to be with his people. He says after they were found guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. The mirror go [music] with Thomas Tuke's admission that the City stars in his England squad are fearing for their futures as the case continues. [music] City have lodged their appeal. Meanwhile, the Express's back [music] page focus on Tukul's comments that he will select City's players even if they end up being kicked [music] out of the Premier League. And Martin's [music] piece is on the front of the Times Sports section. He examines how a statement city main sponsor for Etihad Airways made 11 years ago could undermine their appeal. Uh but look, let's start with a story which has appeared on quite a few of the sports pages. Pep Guardiola planning to return to Manchester City for their next home game in what looks to be a real show of support for the club. Uh Lori Martin, it's really great to have you back on paper talk as we get into another seismic day in the football world talking about Manchester City in this charges case. So let's take you back to the star. I'll be there for blue. Guardiola plots shock Etihad return to be with his people. He says it's understood that Guardiola has told senior figures he would like to be with his people. Lori, he wants to show another public show of support. What have you made of this? >> Yeah, fascinating. I suppose we're in this uh state of there's a little bit of PR around both sides of this argument, right? Where you have the Premier League want to be robust and strong. you have Man City clearly making their feelings known and I suppose Pep is a part of that. Um interesting he doesn't want to go to Anfield maybe uh City's first game back after the international break. That would be an interesting place maybe to show your support. Um I think it's the PSG game, isn't it? In the Champions League a few days after that. Um fine. It's the Etiad. It's the home game. So that makes a bit more sense. Um yeah, interesting. I mean obviously he left after 10 years in charge of City in the summer. Um, you know, these charges were obviously there at City since February 2023. Um, and the case was expected to reach some kind of uh culmination, you know, swiftly, I suppose, in this year at least. And so, you know, would Pep have had to answer these kind of questions if he was still the manager? Did that play a part in his thinking at all in terms of calling it a day after a decade? Um, but yeah, I think it's an interesting situation that he feels like he needs to show that support because I guess a guy of that uh caliber coming and showing alignment with City certainly gives them uh a little bit of a boost in terms of the optics. >> It does and perhaps it it would be a boost for the fans as well. Martin on the back page of the Daily Express on the right hand column there they've also covered this pet plans a return to the Etihad and in this uh Express article they describe it as a defiant show of support for his troubled former club Martin what's your take are you surprised that he's planning this? >> No, not really. Um he put out a very supportive message on social media, didn't he? Um, you know, it couldn't have it couldn't have been more effusive that message and he clearly feels very tied to the the people who gave him that job at Manchester City over all those years. So, yeah, no surprise at all. Um, and if he does return for for that home match, I'm sure he he'll be welcome with with open arms. Uh, I I think it's it's as Lori says, it could be a public relations tactic as much as anything to be honest. Okay, let's take you to the Guardian because this case as we know is has wide-reaching ramifications and it's reached the England squad as well. In the Guardian, hot topic, City players are worried about future says Thomas Tukul. Some of the players Lori it seems are wondering whether their international futures are in jeopardy if the club were to be expelled from the Premier League and they're no longer playing in the top flight. Your take? I think this is fascinating. Um that I mean two cool you know fair play to him for sort of being open about this. He could easily have straight batted it and said you know it's not a concern for us. We're focused on England but clearly the kind of guy that he is the kind of manager that he is he kind of answers questions pretty honestly I would say for the most part and clearly this is a topic of conversation up and down the country at all levels executives coaches players clearly uh and so it's a natural thing I suppose for them to be sort of wondering what might happen now. I mean obviously Martin might know better than me but in terms of the legal case it feels like obviously you got the appeal from City uh that will take a little bit of time then even beyond that the the sanctions and and when when they come into effect but also what players might do themselves because I've spoken to lawyers this week that would suggest that if you know the the kind of doomsday scenario for City happened that there would be questions for players that had entered into contracts with City uh and whether they could pursue uh certain exit strategies I suppose. So that that's perhaps what we're getting at here. Um certainly it's been a big topic of conversation. I've spoken to people that are kind of watching this from afar, you know, both from different clubs but also um closer to to City as well. And I I can understand why people are kind of wondering what's going to happen. But it's interesting that two color has been open about actually saying, "Yeah, we've got players around the the dinner table sort of discussing this." Um I guess it's understandable, isn't it, to have that kind of chatter. Um, but I think we're kind of a long way away from seeing that kind of scenario where you're having players thinking about, well, if we're in sort of the Championship League One, what what does that mean for me? You know, am I going to stay here? Um, I mean, listen, if you've got Elliot Anderson in League One, I still think he's a fantastic player. So, I'm sure two club would still pick him. But whether, you know, he'd have to sort of change clubs at that point, I would imagine so. But yeah, really interesting that two was actually open about this. >> Well, yeah, Elliot Anderson did indeed come up through the EFL, didn't he? Look, there's a similar theme uh reflected in the mirror as well. City stars fear for futures. Tul admits scandals a distraction. So perhaps what I was asking there before Martin was about a long-term worry, but in the short term, could this impact the City players form for club for country? >> Well, he did he did say kind of yes, it was a distraction, but then he thought actually they weren't going to be distracted from the match. So he he was kind of saying both what Thomas Duke, but I think it's natural, isn't it? You know, you got this huge thing hanging over you. Um, uh, your very future at the end of the season potentially could be thrown into turmoil. Of course, it's going to be is going to be something focusing all the players minds. I mean, their first match back is against Liverpool at Anfield, isn't it? I mean, how are they going to go into that kind of getting their heads together when everything is going on? It's I mean we've seen before when when when Manchester City were charged back in 2023 actually that kind of focused their attention and there there was almost like a siege mentality. I think that's what Moresco will try to have to channel now um when when we get to when they get back into the Premier League action and Champions League action because otherwise it could all unravel um if the if the pressure becomes too much. >> It could. Um, Martin, I'm going to stay with you for this next question because I know you've been writing about this in your paper, The Times. That's where we're going to head now because the headline here is Etiad's statement may undermine City. Um, now City's argument at the appeal looks like it's going to be around the extra funding for their sponsorship deals between 2009 and 2018. They argue that it came from the Abu Dhabi government at Martin and not the club's owners. But there's been developments today that could well undermine that. You've been writing about this. give us the latest please. >> Yeah, so there was a an an investigation into the airline industry in the United States and in 2015 um the Etihad gave a statement to this investigation basically saying I'm just going to read it because it's probably quite important saying the assertion that the Abu Dhabi government paid for Etihad's sponsorship of Manchester City is false. So if that statement is saying that's false um but the argument from Manchester City is that the government did provide that funding then does that undermine it? Now I think Manchester City's argument is that the money goes from the government to the airline then it becomes the airlines and then it and then that's that's their argument that it it it's the the airlines liquidity that paid for the sponsorship not the government directly but the government was the original source of the money. So I think it's highly legal technical argument. I'm sure it's been put together by their barristers and will be used in the appeal. Um and we will see. I mean the the independent commission has already looked at this argument, the one that that found the guilty verdicts and and dismissed it. So it's whether the appeal board now will take this on board. Um, and staying with the kind of the basis of this appeal, Lori, there was some raised eyebrows, shall we say, some discussion around the wording within Manchester City's statement, their latest statement in confirming that they've appealed. I mean, what was your take on the wording they used? And it's seemingly another act of defiance against what they're calling almost biased findings from the Premier League. Yeah, I think you're right there, Jess. In calling it defiance, provocative maybe. Can we go as far as that? I mean, you know, calling it the Premier League commission, not an independent commission is one thing, and then also calling it an opinion rather than a verdict is another. It's part of this longunning saga where it feels like City are fighting every single corner to, you know, defend themselves and fight this case um on every different terrain that they can really. And even, you know, as simple as a a statement like this. Um, yeah, because I mean, I suppose they might be reacting to the language that was used in the independent commissioned verdict because it was strong, you know, in terms of what Martin was saying there. This this this kind of appeal, the basis of this appeal was was already heard by the independent commission and they said it was concocted. They said it was after the fact basically uh which was pretty pretty strong words really. And so maybe that's their response, you know, that they're able to, you know, put out any kind of statement they like, I suppose, to to say that they've lodged this appeal. But I mean, the lawyers that I've spoken to this week say there's pretty high bar for getting an appeal heard, you know, in terms of it being either a misunderstanding of the law or um a kind of procedural issue rather than, you know, it can't be new evidence, it can't be um, you know, kind of trying the same thing again with a different panel. It needs to be something very specific. So, I'm really intrigued to see, you know, how this goes because it feels like it's going to be a difficult one even for City to overcome given, you know, notwithstanding all their sort of weight of of of legal expertise. >> So, as I speak to you here on on Friday on this day, we have had a an updated statement from Manchester City confirming that they've lodged an appeal. We've had an updated statement from the Premier League, and we've also, Martin, had a statement from the FA who haven't said anything until Friday. Um, what do you make of the timing of their statement and the content within it? >> Yeah, I mean it to me it's they've been waiting um for the the verdicts before they've ever addressed this. Uh, it may it makes sense. It's the normal process. We've seen it before with with Chelsea and the and the undisclosed payments they made to agents. There was initially the Premier League investigation. Then the FA announced charges and dealt with it separately. and and you can see the same sort of thing happening here. So their statement says that that they this could have significant implications for the integrity of the game. Now that makes me think that they they are preparing separate charges possibly against individuals but also possibly against the club. Um they may wait until we have the outcome of the appeal which could be probably in mid January before they announce any charges or they could do it before then as well. >> Yeah. another part of this, another thread of this story to keep an eye on. Um, let's take you inside the Guardian who are reporting on those comments that we heard from the Prime Minister Andy Burnham over the last couple of days. The Liberal Democrats have responded. They want details of every meeting that the former mayor of Greater Man Manchester, Andy Burnham, had with the club's officials at Manchester City. Lori, that's a big ask. Will they get it? Uh good question. I'd need to check my uh parliamentary procedure and whether they have the right I imagine, you know, there's a a kind of a course for that to have, you know, take place because clearly this is a a sensitive issue and one that's very live and I think Andy Bernham put himself in the middle of it by what he said. You know, he didn't need to say anything. It was, I would say, in my opinion, inappropriate for him to comment and say that he would be concerned if that led to Abu Dhabi uh to pulling their investment from the UK, from Manchester in particular. Obviously, he had close ties to that um investment vehicle with the Manchester life uh scheme that was put up in Manchester, which has certainly transformed the Eastern Manchester. you know, it's it's I live on the outskirts of Manchester and it's a part that has certainly developed and become, you know, a very very vibrant um you know, part of town. I mean, Manchester in itself has grown, I think, exponentially in the last sort of 5 10 years. But there's also controversy about that in terms of whether it's um affordable housing in terms of where the money ultimately ends up. So, yeah, I think this is an interesting topic for for Burnham. It could be a tricky one for him because, you know, he is sort of, you know, quite wedded to this as he showed with his comments around uh the Man City case. Um and there's an irony to it as well because you know he's an Everton fan and he he was quite critical of the uh panel that was put up for the Everton case that obviously led to you know points deductions and ultimately Burnley having an award given to them of sort of 35 million which is which is going to be appealed by Everton but is something that I think a lot of people are taking notice of because that sets a precedent for potential action from other clubs regarding City's actions in this case. Um but you know actually Everton could have an act against City because I think if you look back in history over the period of time that um you know City were uh found guilty of these rule breaches. Everton could have finished in the Europa League four times, Champions League once even. So I know that's not really the the point here and and that shouldn't affect what Burnham's thinking, but it is there's an irony to to some of the the comments coming out. And so yeah, I can see where the Lib Dems are sort of, you know, targeting him on this issue because I think it could be a delicate one for him. Yeah, Martin, I want to bring you in here as well to get your thoughts on how Andy Burnham has uh dealt with this situation. We had those off-the- cuff comments where he said he'd be really concerned um if the Manchester City owners walked away from the club. He then had to clarify those comments via a spokesperson and a statement saying uh that no one is above the rules. So, what have you made of his handling of this all? >> Yeah, pretty clumsy. Um because not only was there a clarification, then there was a clarification. the clarification cuz initially they said if there's been any wrongdoing and then people pointed out well actually the independent commission has found there has been wrongdoing. So that was then changed to where there has been wrongdoing. So yeah, the the whole thing has been fairly clumsy. Then there's things coming out with uh there was a meeting at number 10 with the business secretary and and Calun al-Mubarak, the Manchester City chief executive um about 3 weeks ago and people know you what was discussed there and did they know what was happening. So, it's uh I think it's it's one he will look back on this week, Andy Burnham. You know, he's he's had a good start football-wise generally, but on this one, he's he's certainly um lost sight of of the the best way forward, I think, and I think he'll perhaps regret it. >> Um Lori, I want to come to you next because you you live just on the outskirts of Manchester, as you say, you cover these clubs. you know this city inside out and you've been writing about how Manchester United as a club might actually react to this Manchester City verdict. Just give us a feel a barometer of the the feeling within the city and what might happen at United in relation to City. >> Uh well thank you very much for the plug Jess. Um but yes um it's been a an interesting one to sort of uh bring to to publication just because you know for years really Manchester United under the Glazer regime were one of the strongest lobbyers for Premier League action against Man City because you know their commercial revenues were going up at a certain rate perhaps even plateauing to to a degree whereas cities were keeping on going keeping on going and then you know catching up with United and overtaking. So United's uh people were sort of saying is is that right? Is that correct? And there was some pressure from investors and shareholders to ask questions and so uh but then you get to Jim Ratcliff's investment and I think he has a different perception on this whole issue. He's on record as saying when he first um had his investment uh confirmed in sort of February 2024 that he wouldn't really like to see uh sort of I guess held to account in this way that you know he just wants to smash them on the pitch is his terminology. Uh and certainly he's kind of I think he's spoke to Bloomberg late that year or so and said he'd like less regulation really on this issue. Um and obviously that's a different matter I suppose we can debate whether um you know people should be allowed to owners should be allowed to put in what kind of money they want but um yeah it's sort of a different shift I suppose from United and they've you know hired people from city obviously the chief executive United is Omar Brad who came from city director of football Jason Wilcox came from city the performance director the academy director from city so I think Ratcliffe has looked at city as uh an ideal uh sort of uh blueprint maybe pardon the pun for success and and is is trying to y