Football on Trial: The Manchester City Charges

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Radio 5 Live,·20 Oct 2026,·28 mins

Available for over a year

The independent finally reaches its verdict: City are found guilty on almost all the charges, including using “sham contracts” to disguise more than £800 million in funding over 9 years from the Abu Dhabi United Group and the club’s owners. City responded by saying they were "disappointed and surprised" by the 's findings. The club confirms they will appeal. Rick Edwards is joined by The Observer’s Rory Smith and Xavier Greenwood to make sense of the verdict and its repercussions. Football on Trial is a Tortoise Media / Observer production for BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live. Host: Rick Edwards Producer and writer: Jonathan Lewis Original music: Tom Kinsella Sound design: Amalie Sortland Editor: Jasper Corbett