Similarly, we all want to believe that the PL just threw this all out to stop the leaked imminent announcement of an Independent Regulator, and are just continuing the process and committing tens of millions of £££ in legal fees as a cheeky punt to appease the American owners but it doesn’t pass a ‘balance of probabilities’ smell test.
This is one thing I could never get my head around. The White Paper was largely about (inter alia) improving the owners tests, preventing clubs being liquidated, protecting community assets and improving the game for the spectators and fans.
How are we supposed to believe the PL is showing it can self-regulate by imposing sporting sanctions in terms of deducted points, and allowing other clubs to claim compensation, which will very possibly lead to liquidation and a further points deduction and the very outcome the White Paper wants to avoid?
All they are doing is showing that they can be tough applying FFP even if their sanctions are detrimental to the club, the community asset and the spectators and fans.
I don't get that argument. It's like a Willie Donachie own goal ..... In fact, it's like the PL are doing the best they can to cause outrage in the football world, showing they can't regulate the game properly, and giving certain clubs the reason to consider a different league. Oh, hang on a minute .....
On your other points, I don't really care about Mancini (well I do, I loved the guy when he was here, but you know what I mean), it's immaterial. Etisalat was explained in the CAS decision pretty comprehensively - I don't see any significant issue there. The image rights weren't time barred, iirc, they just didn't charge the club for anything to do with it.
