The financial rule breaching by Manchester City features prominently on many of the front, and back, pages on Saturday.
“Guilty” is the one word headline used by both the Daily Mail, external and the Daily Express, external. The i Weekend, external says the verdicts have “rocked football”, while the Guardian, external declares that the Premier League is in “turmoil”. “Sin City” is the Daily Mirror’s, external headline. Manchester City have always denied wrongdoing and plan to appeal. The Premier League has declined to comment.
The FT Weekend, external writes that the scope of Manchester City’s case has no precedent in English football and any appeals and legal challenges could take years to resolve. The Daily Telegraph, external says similar, quoting legal experts who say the verdict is “far from the end of the case”. According to the Sun, external, Manchester City could face an “exodus” of stars after the verdict, summing up with the headline: “Man Quitty.”
The Daily Telegraph, external leads with a plea from the family of the retired explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes for an urgent investigation into his care arrangements. The paper says the family has accused the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) of “ignoring repeated requests to look into the 82-year-old’s welfare after his wife, Louise Millington-Cotes, stopped him from receiving visitors”. The Telegraph also carries a quote from the ‘s World Affairs editor, John Simpson, that he’s “horrified” to hear what’s happening to his friend and that he’d like to tell the relevant authorities everything he knows. The paper adds that both the OPG and Louise Millington-Cotes have been approached for comment.
“Burnham bottles it” is the Daily Mail’s, external headline, after the prime minister ruled out a snap general election. He addressed the speculation in a round a broadcast interviews yesterday. The Times, external said he dismissed the idea as “self-serving politics”.
While the Guardian, external looks ahead to the Labour party conference, which gets under way in Liverpool this weekend. “Hope again” is said to be Andy Burnham’s slogan for the event, as he tries to “banish the ghost” of his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.