Manchester City scandal: more than £900m in illegal income and ‘sham’ contracts
A Guardian podcast examines Manchester City’s scandal after sports writer Jonathan Liew says the club was found guilty of cheating its way to the top. The case involves more than £900m in illegal income since 2008 and the wider impact of foreign money on the Premier League and the UK.
Image: theguardian.com · Author: Annie Kelly,Jonathan Liew,Simon Hattenstone,Tom Glasser,Brian McNamara · source articleEditorial excerpt for news reporting
A Guardian podcast examines the scandal surrounding Manchester City, which sports writer Jonathan Liew says was found guilty of cheating its way to sporting success.
Liew said the club received more than £900m in illegal income since 2008. The podcast title also refers to billionaire sheiks and “sham” contracts.
A Guardian fan’s history
The podcast features Guardian features writer Simon Hattenstone, who has supported Manchester City for more than 50 years. He began attending matches with his father as a child while recovering from a serious illness.
Hattenstone describes a long period marked by occasional highs and many failures. The club’s fortunes later changed, ushering in a decade of major success.
The impact of foreign money
Liew presents the consequences as extending beyond Manchester City. The podcast considers how a major influx of foreign capital changed the Premier League and the United Kingdom.
The programme frames Manchester City’s story as part of a broader transformation in English football linked to substantial overseas investment.
What we know
- Jonathan Liew said Manchester City was found guilty of cheating to achieve success.
- The podcast says the club received more than £900m in illegal income since 2008.
- Its title refers to billionaire sheiks and “sham” contracts.
- The programme examines foreign money’s impact on the Premier League and the UK.
What is being verified
- The newsroom is checking the report that jonathan Liew said Manchester City was found guilty of cheating to achieve success.
- Reporting from The Guardian Business is being compared; a second independent confirmation is not yet available.
View sources1
COMMUNITY
Discussion
Sign in to join the discussion.
No comments yet. Start the discussion.