File on 4

Other

BBC Radio 4 LW

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Factual: Politics

Award-winning current affairs documentary series

Award-winning current affairs documentary series investigating major issues at home and abroad

BBC Radio 4 FM

File on 4: Teams and Regimes: Sportswashing in Football

Teams and Regimes: Sportswashing in Football

BBC Radio 4 - File on 4, Teams and Regimes: Sportswashing in Football

Is middle eastern oil money being used to buy more than just success for football clubs?

Is middle eastern oil money being used to buy more than success for football clubs like Manchester City and Newcastle United, but also to exert political influence in the UK?

Manchester City are dominating English football, with a trophy cabinet full of silverware. The club’s success has been bankrolled by money from Abu Dhabi. Now Newcastle United have followed in their wake, with backing from a Saudi consortium transforming a sleeping giant of English football into perhaps the world’s richest club. But with the money comes accusations that the clubs are being used to launder the reputations of repressive regimes accused of human rights abuses, and that the cash from the two oil rich states is being used to exert political influence locally and nationally in the UK.

Reporter: Adrian Goldberg
Producer: Fergus Hewison
Technical Producer: Craig Boardman
Production coordinator: Tim Fernley
Editor: Carl Johnston

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

File on 4

Teams and Regimes: Sportswashing in Football

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4