UEFA FFP investigation - CAS decision to be announced Monday, 13th July 9.30am BST

[Fred_Quimby]

If the "decision" is coming out on Thursday, it seems like City are fully aware what the result is and we are going on a mini last minute attack with the Parry stuff.

It's refreshing to see the club come out and be a bit more bullish. I just wish we'd done this a few years ago before we'd got to this point, which is now seemingly too little, too late.

I've been pretty outspoken with my views that the club's "slowly slowly catchy monkey" strategy with the media has been fundamentally flawed and doomed to fail from the beginning.

Many on here thought it was the right approach at the time. I wonder how many still think that now?

Some people really twist comments. The club has released one statement and some people immediately think that all the speculation in the media has come from our club??

 

[Machiavelli]

Khaldoon after the 2014 “pinch”

“I am looking forward to an interview six years from now when we look back at these rules and regulations that have been put in place which have a particular model in mind, and the model we started on six years ago and will take us for the next six years.

“I think then, history will judge what was right for football. I have all the confidence in the world in where we are going to be in six years and what we are going to show in terms of being the right model.”

https://www.manchestereveningnews.c.../manchester-city-chairman-khaldoon-al-7147880

Seems like they thought all this bollocks would be done in “six years” (2020). Hopefully the club realises it’s not going to go away anytime soon and takes the gloves off.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

I see the sense in this, but at what stage do they address, what seems to me to be the chief short-term aim of whoever is perpetrating this drip feed negative press narrative. And that is to discredit and undermine any achievement made by the club. Current timing would suggest this is an assault to hopefully put enough doubt in players minds about coming here. We've already won the league. This current campaign is discrediting that achievement and also trying to disrupt our transfer activity.

The team are producing on the playing field despite the quite obvious, to some, obstacles that they face each year.
The bit that really gets me about modern football is that it is becoming more and more clear, to us (City), that the real battles are political and Big Business.
It's all about protectionism. Year after year of this I become more and more disillusioned by the sport. But this in itself is a win for those that would like us to disappear.

This is why, while I agree with you on the right approach, from a business sense, being taken. I would just like a clear victory in the propaganda war every once in a while.
The average supporter of other clubs, regardless of how much they may hate Liverpool or United, still only see one side of the mud slinging against us and assume that it's true.

I'd love to see the underhanded dealings of the G14 exposed for what they are. If the Sheik doesn't require it, I think the fans do.

All good points.
I think at the moment it's waiting until something definitive comes out of Leterme's committee. I expect they've worked through various options on how to respond.

I do think they will be looking at the whole structure and who is pulling strings, if they don't know already. I don't know what the way to deal with it is though - unless they hire investigators to find and leak bad news about rivals! It's a tough line to not upset whatever allies/friends City have while targetting the rivals - that's why they get paid a lot! I agree that the Champions League is now a business, and on-field stuff is less important (witness Utd with their cashpile and lack of success).

 

[Shaelumstash]

Some people really twist comments. The club has released one statement and some people immediately think that all the speculation in the media has come from our club??

Hang on. Rick Parry has been sat on the FFP board for 10 years.

The day after City pip Liverpool to the title, a "leak" about City's FFP business is reported in the press.

The very next day, the papers are running stories about Rick Parry being on the FFP board and having an apparent conflict of interest.

And you DON"T think City had anything to do with the latter? Come on, mate.

 

[Chi-town blues]

Its interesting noting the final paragraph of the Telegraph piece:

"Senior Uefa officials – who previously launched sanctions against City in 2014 – are particularly enraged by leaked files from 2015, which claim almost £60 million was paid directly into the club by their billionaire Arab owners but declared as sponsorship."

The allegation UEFA officials were "enraged" is also interesting, based on what information exactly, pure fabrication imo.
Its quite clearly aimed at stating the leak as a fact whilst hiding behind "leaked files"and "claimed". I would suggest some of these journalists are treading a very fine line and if any of our posters think we would have collaborated in the production of this nonsense then I'd be disappointed. In addition the whole statement is only a partial truth with an insinuation based on the good old emails that nobody apart from Der Spiegel has seen (maybe UEFA officials now).

As already stated though it does appear to be pointing the finger at Parry saying how the fuck can you be impartial. Which is a good thing. I'd like to see this narrative repeated over and over and this fucker may well have to publicly step away from the decision of the adjudicatory chamber - not that I think for a minute their decision will be any different.

I think its quite clear that the tone of our press release was one of great displeasure other than merely factual legal speak. It has quite clearly ramped up a notch although I accept not quite "coming out swinging". It may represent an escalating sequence but I suspect is quite clearly a warning that our legal teams are keeping a very beady eye on press speculation and what is being reported as fact. Journalists seeking to shit stir further should indeed be very wary.

Jurnos likes to break the news as part of their job but I don’t think they are that stupid unless someone is on payroll . Whoever is sponsoring these non stop attack must be hunted down . They clearly have conflicts of interest .

 

[kalouk]

If the "decision" is coming out on Thursday, it seems like City are fully aware what the result is and we are going on a mini last minute attack with the Parry stuff.

It's refreshing to see the club come out and be a bit more bullish. I just wish we'd done this a few years ago before we'd got to this point, which is now seemingly too little, too late.

I've been pretty outspoken with my views that the club's "slowly slowly catchy monkey" strategy with the media has been fundamentally flawed and doomed to fail from the beginning.

Many on here thought it was the right approach at the time. I wonder how many still think that now?

I understand your point and tend to agree with you. I do feel that the gently, gently approach had to be tried but it was allowed to go on too long. One positive is that now we are standing strong it carries more weight because we haven't been so bullish before. In all honesty whichever approach we decided on wouldn't have made a difference because people involved in the game and media etc don't approve of us and we are seen as something to be stopped and if smears and lies helps them so be it. I understand the need to see the club vindicated but nothing will change will be accused of giving backhanders or some other crap.

 

[Kompany Car]

Is anyone concerned that our target signings won't come if we get banned?
Why is their a constant agenda against us?

Yes and I think that is part of their plan. The longer the threats continue the more seeds of doubt will be sown.
Likewise the continual threats of transfer window bans (admittedly not from UEFA but other corrupt fuckers) will also drive up the price that city have to pay for players as the selling team know we need to make the purchase. This in the longer term makes sure City have less funds available due to them still amortising the cost of over inflated players over each subsequent year.

 

[Norbiton]

It seems strange to me that UEFA appear to be focussing on the sponsorship from UAE based companies which appeared to be the least worrying aspects of the leaks published in Spiegel. The Etihad deal was already ruled to be both fair value and not a related party so even if there is now evidence to suggest it is a related party there is still nothing to show we broke FFP rules, simply that we "misled" the poor dears. Nothing about image rights or Operation Longbow, or allegations about Mancini's two salaries. Which suggests they've found absolutely nothing concrete to pin on us.

 

[BluessinceHydeRoad]

The mood among City fans is angry and spoiling for a fight, but as yet without any clear idea who our opponent is to be. Many believe that our club is too passive, too soft and doesn't fight back when attacked but City will not fight back until it knows if anything is worth fighting about anyone is worth fighting. At the moment there is one newspaper article which appears unsure of where its information comes from and a bunch of loud mouthed pundits ready to believe anything which portrays our club as guilty of any abuse. The club has made clear its stance on the article and on UEFA's inquiry and the way it is being conducted. The club's lawyers are clearly confident of the outcome and have made this known. What they will do if the outcome of the inquiry is not as expected remains to be seen, but it will not be to "call out" the entire UEFA staff, nor will it be "to rip them a new one". City will fight battles it can win, not do as we believe UEFA are doing - carrying out a vendetta. Our lawyers will show UEFA are doing something far more serious than not liking us.

 

[SilverFox2]

Khaldoon after the 2014 “pinch”

“I am looking forward to an interview six years from now when we look back at these rules and regulations that have been put in place which have a particular model in mind, and the model we started on six years ago and will take us for the next six years.

“I think then, history will judge what was right for football. I have all the confidence in the world in where we are going to be in six years and what we are going to show in terms of being the right model.”

https://www.manchestereveningnews.c.../manchester-city-chairman-khaldoon-al-7147880

Seems like they thought all this bollocks would be done in “six years” (2020). Hopefully the club realises it’s not going to go away anytime soon and takes the gloves off.

As far as our Chairman is concerned City have shown that their model is superior to the conventional view of football clubs.
This is the problem to all the old guard who have seen their worst fears happen.
Surely no-one expected us to be welcomed after we took on a cartel in the form of a barrier to entry?
They failed up to now to stop us so they are running out of time and opportunity to stop us. Our club has literally beaten them at their own game on the field and is quickly catching up commercially with the best so we cannot be popular with them now.
Tactically they are regurgitating old ground using their own biased rules desperately using every trick in the book but expecting us to sheepishly accept their leaks as a football allowable tactic.
A bit like a PL game where all our tackles are penalised but blind eyes to tackles on City players.
We will never be accepted by them so perhaps we should watch them implode a bit like DisUnited and the previous Platina led uefa fiasco.

 

[Neville Kneville]

The mood among City fans is angry and spoiling for a fight, but as yet without any clear idea who our opponent is to be. Many believe that our club is too passive, too soft and doesn't fight back when attacked but City will not fight back until it knows if anything is worth fighting about anyone is worth fighting. At the moment there is one newspaper article which appears unsure of where its information comes from and a bunch of loud mouthed pundits ready to believe anything which portrays our club as guilty of any abuse. The club has made clear its stance on the article and on UEFA's inquiry and the way it is being conducted. The club's lawyers are clearly confident of the outcome and have made this known. What they will do if the outcome of the inquiry is not as expected remains to be seen, but it will not be to "call out" the entire UEFA staff, nor will it be "to rip them a new one". City will fight battles it can win, not do as we believe UEFA are doing - carrying out a vendetta. Our lawyers will show UEFA are doing something far more serious than not liking us.

That goes without saying tbh.

But City have already commented on people seeking to undermine the club.

If they find proof of that, they will nail their fucking hats on.

 

[Machiavelli]

As far as our Chairman is concerned City have shown that their model is superior to the conventional view of football clubs.
This is the problem to all the old guard who have seen their worst fears happen.
Surely no-one expected us to be welcomed after we took on a cartel in the form of a barrier to entry?
They failed up to now to stop us so they are running out of time and opportunity to stop us. Our club has literally beaten them at their own game on the field and is quickly catching up commercially with the best so we cannot be popular with them now.
Tactically they are regurgitating old ground using their own biased rules desperately using every trick in the book but expecting us to sheepishly accept their leaks as a football allowable tactic.
A bit like a PL game where all our tackles are penalised but blind eyes to tackles on City players.
We will never be accepted by them so perhaps we should watch them implode a bit like DisUnited and the previous Platina led uefa fiasco.
None of the uefa board are totally

We’ve undoubtedly become what he prophesied in 2014, we all know ADUG’s model is better than the rest but the point was the battle for hearts and minds has long since gone and regardless of the reasons we’re still facing a constant witch-hunt. I think Khaldoon might have suspected we would’ve seen some light at the end of the tunnel after the “pinch” but we seem further from that as we’ve ever been.

 

[oakiecokie]

We'll know the outcome.

I`ve been at a loss all yesterday and today with some of the most baffling quotes made by fellow Blue Mooners.
Its being done deliberately to coincide with our FA Cup Final.
So fucking what.
What the fuck does that have to do with the players ? They wont give a flying fuck at this moment in time and it wont affect their performances one jot.Pep will not allow neither will Vinny and nor will the players.
They have the opportunity of reaching a goal that so far has not been reached ... the treble.
Anyone daft enough to believe that any outcome from UEFA will psychologically harm the teams performance on Saturday really needs to see Matron.
Taxi for Flappers !!

 

[KS55]

That goes without saying tbh.

But City have already commented on people seeking to undermine the club.

If they find proof of that, they will nail their fucking hats on.

I think they already know who the guilty ppl are.

 

[crazyg]

Rick Parry's Wiki page cites him as being "an unashamed Liverpool fan".....

Aren't they all?

 

[Robinho's Subbuteo]

Ultimately it's other clubs through UEFA saying "FFS! You're just too bloody good at this football club thing and you're getting too bloody successful. It's not fair and it has to stop!"

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

The mood among City fans is angry and spoiling for a fight, but as yet without any clear idea who our opponent is to be. Many believe that our club is too passive, too soft and doesn't fight back when attacked but City will not fight back until it knows if anything is worth fighting about anyone is worth fighting. At the moment there is one newspaper article which appears unsure of where its information comes from and a bunch of loud mouthed pundits ready to believe anything which portrays our club as guilty of any abuse. The club has made clear its stance on the article and on UEFA's inquiry and the way it is being conducted. The club's lawyers are clearly confident of the outcome and have made this known. What they will do if the outcome of the inquiry is not as expected remains to be seen, but it will not be to "call out" the entire UEFA staff, nor will it be "to rip them a new one". City will fight battles it can win, not do as we believe UEFA are doing - carrying out a vendetta. Our lawyers will show UEFA are doing something far more serious than not liking us.

I don't think there is a vendetta by the IC. I think there is tremendous internal and external pressure on UEFA to "do something", and those on the IC don't want to appear toothless and weak, while also being frightened of City going to the nuclear option. As always with nukes they are better to have as a threat unused than they are to use, which I think is in part your point.

City have already been tried and found guilty in the court of public opinion, and being successful only confirms in that court that we must have somehow cheated, and the greater the success, the more we must have cheated. That's the narrative -- nothing will ever change it.

 

[Citizen in Pakistan]

The mood among City fans is angry and spoiling for a fight, but as yet without any clear idea who our opponent is to be. Many believe that our club is too passive, too soft and doesn't fight back when attacked but City will not fight back until it knows if anything is worth fighting about anyone is worth fighting. At the moment there is one newspaper article which appears unsure of where its information comes from and a bunch of loud mouthed pundits ready to believe anything which portrays our club as guilty of any abuse. The club has made clear its stance on the article and on UEFA's inquiry and the way it is being conducted. The club's lawyers are clearly confident of the outcome and have made this known. What they will do if the outcome of the inquiry is not as expected remains to be seen, but it will not be to "call out" the entire UEFA staff, nor will it be "to rip them a new one". City will fight battles it can win, not do as we believe UEFA are doing - carrying out a vendetta. Our lawyers will show UEFA are doing something far more serious than not liking us.

We should fight the battles where we know we have a strong case which we always had since the introduction of ffp but we chose not to.

Secondly, the NYT article isnt a simple matter as you put it. It was published with an intent on damaging our reputation, undermining our success. It wasnt some sort of news scoop which accidentally found its way in paper rhe very next day after our title win, it was a well thought out move.

However, this has made our case even more stronger. If you analyse City's statement it states that UEFA had a duty to keep secrecy about investigation which they clearly didnt and its a very strong case of breach of trust, which puts the whole investigation process into doubt. Uefa wont be able to shrug it of in court.

Lastly, we played by the rules and still some are bent to twist our arm, so if thats how they wana play then why should we hold back? Barca are gonna be makin their 3rd 100 million signing with Griezman and our most expensive signing has been 60 M, yet we are the ones who allegedly are destroying football with money and get shit press for it

 

[Fred_Quimby]

Hang on. Rick Parry has been sat on the FFP board for 10 years.

The day after City pip Liverpool to the title, a "leak" about City's FFP business is reported in the press.

The very next day, the papers are running stories about Rick Parry being on the FFP board and having an apparent conflict of interest.

And you DON"T think City had anything to do with the latter? Come on, mate.

Good job your not on a jury. Jumping to conclusions.

 

[Newman Noggs]

City have already been tried and found guilty in the court of public opinion, and being successful only confirms in that court that we must have somehow cheated, and the greater the success, the more we must have cheated. That's the narrative -- nothing will ever change it.

This is only true to a certain extent. What the publicity has done is put the club into a position where it not only has to be cleared of any wrongdoing but has to be seen to be cleared.

So how does that happen ? In an ideal world UEFA would issue a statement saying that after a full investigation UEFA confirms that MCFC have complied fully with both the rules and the spirit of the FFP regulations.

That we are where we are tells us that UEFA will never do that. So UEFA will damn us as pre-ordained and as demanded by the cartel of clubs pressurising them.

Unfortunately, that leaves us with the option of fighting it in Court or discrediting the process and, by association, UEFA to the point where they are forced to retreat.

The latter may happen or a compromise may be reached but time appears to be running out. Who knows ? but the recent leaks throw us a lever with which to prise the lid off the whole corrupt sham and let the light in.

Football is so partisan, opposition supporters will believe the worst whatever. The main objective has to be to stop the media peddling lies and deliberately injurious speculation.