CAS is only the first step. Re-read the city statement again. Very clear that we're prepared to challenge UEFA, and indeed FFP and the damages, legally in court outside of a sporting environment. Do UEFA think FFP wills hold up in court? I think we're going to find out soon enough.
Even if we win at CAS, I don't think that is the end of it. How can we in the future play by the rules of an organisation that has sought us out for special retribution? We need to hurt them.
Interesting to read the rumours that Ceferin wanted us to accept the pinch again to avoid a ban. Likely he knew we were serious in our statements to fight it and wanted to avoid UEFA's name being dragged through the mud, but if there is any chance at all that it was fuelled by fear their process and decision, and indeed the evidence itself, was lacking, then I hope we were sensible enough to document all contact.
This will be fought. It will get messy. I still fail to see on what basis UEFA think they have more evidence to take further action.
Must be a discussion ongoing now at city as to whether we can provide the full emails purported to have been hacked, for CAS. If they clearly were misinterpreted, as our original statement suggested, then could be a relatively quick and embarrassing decision at CAS, for UEFA. Because not once have UEFA seemingly asked us for those emails in full. The released hack, handled via an unnamed and unknowingly motivated source, was seemingly enough at face value. We could rightly deny any knowledge of he emails, counter that possibly UEFA themselves concocted them.
As far as I know, there is no evidence we sent those emails, even if they have the right names of the employees. They could have been doctored, completely falseified, did UEFA check? Nope. Strange, that. Almost as if the evidence was not actually something they wanted to dwell on.
Honestly, if CAS is truly impartial, then this ban just can't be enforced. It's based off an excerpt of an unverified source, shoved into the right sized shape to fit Leterme's pre-existing will to see Manchester City punished by UEFA.
