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Downing Street has insisted that Manchester City are not "above the rules" after the Prime Minister was criticised for his reaction to the club's breach of Premier League rules.
No.10 said the guilty verdict against the club was "serious" but reiterated that the process was "ongoing" and "independent".
A spokesperson issued the statement after Andy Burnham said he would be "really concerned" to see the current owners sell up.
Nick Ferrari is joined by Pete Hall, North-West Football Correspondent for the i Paper to discuss.
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0:00
Widespread condemnation of the Prime Minister's remarks
0:03
Number 10 forced to put out a statement. As the Prime Minister made clear, the initial judgment is serious
0:07
and there can't be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules. He also stressed it's an ongoing independent process
0:13
It's essential it's allowed to run its course and the outcome respected
0:18
Wherever wrongdoing is established, those responsible should face the appropriate consequences. Pete Hall is North West football correspondent for the iPaper
0:26
Probably in the heart of football, actually, moment in this country, I would suggest he's got most of the big
0:29
teams around him and he joins me now. Pete, it's gone to VAR
0:34
Is it an embarrassing home goal? Morning to you. Good morning, Nick. Yes, yes, it is
0:40
And especially the backtracking. I did especially like the line on the statement where he says
0:45
the Prime Minister has been clear. He hasn't been clear. He said completely the opposite in what he said
0:51
first time around. And I understand Andy Burnham's point of view because Sheet Manchur and
0:57
Abu Dhabi, a united group, have been a huge part of Manchester
1:01
Manchester's been absolutely transformed. But what have they provided, Pete? Have they put in infrastructure and roads and things like that and parks
1:08
What is it they've actually provided in plain terms, Pete? So it splits into two, really
1:13
So with Manchester City, they've just completely regenerated the entire area. They've built a brand new training facility
1:22
They revamped the stadium. Apartments and transport links all around it have been massively improved
1:30
Lots and lots of jobs have been created. And then their other investment is in Manchester City Centre They rebuilt whole areas Ancotes for example has been completely transformed into luxury mostly luxury apartments It one of the most desired areas of Manchester City Centre to live
1:48
So it's two part, really. But the main partnership and the main benefit of having them on board for Andy Burnham when he was Mayor of Manchester was the money
1:57
I'm sure it was. What is the judicial process that will now be applied to Manchester City and its owners
2:03
so they're going to they're going to officially announce they're going to appeal today
2:09
um and their argument is going to be despite the fact they claim they're not state-owned
2:15
that the payment to manchester city came from the government um rather than the sponsorship
2:23
sham partnerships as the premier league uh called them um so city are going to have something up
2:31
the sleeve they've got the best lawyers in the country um no expense has been spared we're
2:36
talking hundreds of millions you know it will be hundreds of millions by the end the legal bills
2:41
um no they're going to have something up the sleeve for them to be this bullish at this stage
2:46
when the premier league have been this ardent in their guilty guilty verdict and that detailed we
2:52
didn't expect to have this much detail at this stage um they're going to have something up the
2:56
sleeve so this is going to drag on for a long long while yet tell me a bit what might the sanctions
3:01
be? So if they're guilty of the 114 of the 115 charges, then it has to be as severe as possible
3:12
punishment. Now, I've spoken to a lot of people this week, as you can imagine, who have varying views on what should be the punishment It going to be at the very very least an almighty unprecedented points total that would probably almost certainly mean that they get
3:28
relegated so you're talking 50 60 points but people are saying that's not enough we're talking
3:33
years and years of transfer bans and other things but hang on if if i'm early in harland right and
3:41
i'm earning 500 000 pound a week i don't necessarily want to play at bromley next year
3:46
or against the cream of British soccer, Leicester City. That's my own personal pain
3:51
I don't need to share that with you, OK? But I don't want to turn out at Bromley or, I don't know, Crewe, do I
3:56
Can I effectively walk away from a contract? No, they haven't got..
4:03
So this is the thing about... City knew about this before the summer
4:07
so they knew they were going to be guilty before the summer and they still spent £400 million on new players
4:12
none of which have got relegation clauses in the contracts because they just didn't think this
4:19
they think they're going to be able to fight this they're still so bullish they think they're going to be able to fight this
4:23
but if I'm a lawyer for Hart or one of those players can I say ah but when I signed my player to your books
4:28
I didn't know you were guilty of 115 charges ergo I think you've cancelled the contract by your
4:34
would there be an argument for a lawyer there? Well I think it would be more likely there would be a fire sale
4:40
I don't think City are going to fight the players over this because they might need the money to pay off all the enormous fines
4:47
that they're going to have to pay. But the thing is, as I said earlier, Nick
4:52
this is going to drag on for years yet. So the players aren't panicking yet
4:57
Lastly you the Eye North West football correspondent So you haven just got City you got United Down the road or up the road or across the road you got Liverpool or Everton What the rest of the football community saying
5:10
Well, I thought, I did think people would be a bit more adamant
5:15
that City would be, let's get them out of the league. Let's demote them down the league. Let's really punish them
5:20
But there's kind of a mixed reaction at the moment because what you've got to bear in mind is, Nick, is there's going to be repercussions
5:26
way beyond this case. So Premier League clubs up and down the country
5:30
are going to try and sue Manchester City for compensation, for missing out on Champions League
5:34
missing out on prize money. And it's going to drag on for years and years. It's going to make the Premier League
5:38
a legal mess for years. And really, nobody wins because it's going to be an awful place
5:44
It's going to deter investors. There's so many downsides to this that clubs are like
5:51
yes, City deserve to be punished, but are we going to be better off? Maybe not
5:55
Leicester City need those six points back. Well, I doubt the Spanches are sitting here. I'm not asking you out for a drink or taking you for a meal
6:01
What are you doing Sunday week, then? Where are you going to be, Pete, for the iPaper? Well, lo and behold, I may be down the M62 to a certain Anfield
6:12
where I think maybe the atmosphere might be a little bit touchy
6:18
How do the people who do the fixtures get... Often, if a player sells their key player to another club
6:23
The first game they play is against... And this will be Liverpool-Manchester City Sunday week
6:28
The broadcasters are rubbing their hands. That atmosphere is good. I think I'll get there early for that one
6:34
Yeah, and tell me, you get paid for this, do you? You're doing pretty well for that one. Thanks, Pete. Enjoy speaking. Have a good weekend
6:40
Pete Hall, North West Football Correspondent for the Eye newspaper
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