About Football on Trial: The Manchester City Charges
Eight Premier League titles. Six League Cups. Three FA Cups. The Champions League. Since an extraordinary takeover in 2008, Manchester City have become one of the most dominant football clubs in the world.
But what did it take to get there?
Clive Myrie and Rick Edwards tell the inside story of the rise of Manchester City and the Premier League allegations of financial rule-breaking that threaten to put an asterisk next to their accolades and throw English football into disarray.
The independent commission 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 commission'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
27 Feb 2025
4. Judgement day
The Premier League is in a high-stakes civil war with Manchester City after charging the club with more than 100 alleged breaches of its financial rules. Clive Myrie turns to football finance experts Kieran Maguire and Nick De Marco KC to unpack the case. As an era-defining verdict draws near, City fans reflect on what a negative outcome will mean for their support.
Football on Trial is a Tortoise Media production for BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live.
Host: Clive Myrie
Writer: Xavier Greenwood
Producer: Xavier Greenwood, Andrew Butler
Original music: Tom Kinsella
Sound design: Tom Kinsella, Karla Patella, Tom Burchell
Development producer: Jess Swinburne
Editor: Jasper Corbett
27 Feb 2025
3. Project Longbow
Man City are dominating English football, but journalists in Germany are raising question marks about how they achieved their success. Christoph Winterbach, a reporter for Der Spiegel, tells the story of Rui Pinto, the Football Leaks emails, and the revelations that followed.
Football on Trial is a Tortoise Media production for BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live.
Host: Clive Myrie
Writer: Xavier Greenwood
Producer: Xavier Greenwood, Andrew Butler
Original music: Tom Kinsella
Sound design: Tom Kinsella, Karla Patella, Tom Burchell
Development producer: Jess Swinburne
Editor: Jasper Corbett
20 Feb 2025
2. Aguero's Moment
Now under Abu Dhabi ownership, Manchester City spend big on the stars of world football and finally see results. But it’s the arrival of 23-year-old Sergio Aguero that changes everything. Fans and players tell the story of that goal, which gives City and the Premier League a historic moment.
Football on Trial is a Tortoise Media production for BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live.
Host: Clive Myrie
Writer: Xavier Greenwood
Producer: Xavier Greenwood, Andrew Butler
Original music: Tom Kinsella
Sound design: Tom Kinsella, Karla Patella, Tom Burchell
Development producer: Jess Swinburne
Editor: Jasper Corbett
20 Feb 2025
1. A New Hope
As a Manchester City fan for nearly 50 years, Clive Myrie has experienced his fair share of disappointment. But his club is transformed when a Gulf royal makes an audacious bid for City. Anil Bhoyrul brings fresh insight into how the takeover came about.
Football on Trial is a Tortoise Media production for BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live.
Host: Clive Myrie
Writer: Xavier Greenwood
Producer: Xavier Greenwood, Andrew Butler
Original music: Tom Kinsella
Sound design: Tom Kinsella, Karla Patella, Tom Burchell
Development producer: Jess Swinburne
Editor: Jasper Corbett
18 Feb 2025
Introducing Football on Trial: The Manchester City Charges
Clive Myrie tells the football story of the century: the rise of Manchester City and the Premier League allegations of financial rule-breaking that threaten to bring the club crashing down.
Football on Trial is a Tortoise Media production for BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
11 ratings
Spotify
3.9 / 5
12 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 47 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
75
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
50
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