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

[OB1]

Like all blues (and the media), I've been following this thread from the start and amidst all the speculation and "expert" opinion, which has almost universally been proved wrong, there's a fair degree of despondency brought on by a sense of impotence. I think that is because we need to focus. I hear talk about whether we are "guilty" or "innocent". That's a complete diversion from the main point that FFP, in all it's guises, is fundamentally wrong and marks the death of football. The establishment media are creating an illusion which even some City fans are falling for. This isn't an attack on City, it's a war on football, it's just that only the most courageous of those in te public eye and whose livelihood depends on it is ever going to say so. The media as a whole are collaborators in the biggest ever fraud on football.

So what can we do about it apart from wringing our hands and crying "woe is us" ?

Well, for whatever reason, we find ourselves in the resistance frontline. The first point is focus. No amount of speculation or "expert opinion" is going to help the club. Let the real experts get on with it and what will be will be. Arguing with a complicit media whose main "commentators" are purposely placed mouthpieces, lickspittles and stooges is pointless.

Our biggest weapon, and available to each and every one of us, is word of mouth. And I don't mean railing about injustice or wallowing in victimhood, no-one is listening and it comes across as pathetic. Everyone knows a non-united, liverpool, chelsea or Arsenal fan. Simply point out that if they support Wolves, Everton, Southampton... whoever, they are being conned. Not just short-term, forever. They will never, ever, compete with that cartel of clubs. In the 5000/1 chance that they do win the league, their best players, like Kante, for example, will be stripped from them and that will be that. If they enjoy being conned, fine, move on. But if you convince one person and they convince a couple of their friends, a groundswell will start and the product will, rightly, suffer.

The overall point is that this isn't about Manchester City, this is a fight for the future of football.

You make some good points.

The key one that cannot be reiterated enough is that FFP is a con. My own belief is that it borders on the illegal but proving that in a suitable jurisdiction is another matter; that though is the fight City need to have.

I know that I am completely biased but I also believe that I understand objectively what good principles are regarding competition and investment in business and there is a huge injustice being done to our club. Every City supporter should make that clear to anyone who will listen and - as you point out - not in a sorry for ourselves way but based of the facts and the implications for other teams.

 

[domalino]

Yes, if he has seen actual invoices, that is worrying, but best not to trust his words.

Remember he's not seen anything that der spiegel haven't published. The Guardian are not part of the EIC group that received the hacked documents.

 

[FightLikeAGirl]

Serious question from an outsider - do you think Pep will leave because of this?

 

[blueinsa]

Mate just sent me a quote from bernado saying he left Benfica too early and that if they will have him back he will go... clearly taken out of context but cba with players saying stupid shit now

Or clearly made up.

 

[blueinsa]

Serious question from an outsider - do you think Pep will leave because of this?

No.

 

[El Ingeniero de Noruega]

Maybe CAS should look into UEFA for their fundings.....


UEFA has released details of the distribution of revenue to clubs from the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League as well as solidarity payments for the qualifying phases.

The gross commercial revenue from the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League, the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League and the 2018 UEFA Super Cup is estimated at around €3.25bn.

Of the estimated gross amount of €3.25bn, €295m will be deducted to cover organisational costs relating to the competitions, and 7% (€227.5m) will be set aside for solidarity payments. Of the resulting net revenue of €2.73bn, 6.5% will be reserved for European football and remain with UEFA, and the other 93.5% will be distributed to the participating clubs.

On the basis of the above revenue forecast and set allocations, the total amount available for distribution to participating clubs in 2018/19 is €2.55bn, of which €2.04bn will be distributed to clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup, and €510m will be distributed to clubs participating in the UEFA Europa League. Furthermore, additional contributions from UEFA Champions League clubs' share will be made as follows:

• €50m to UEFA Europa League clubs' share
• €10m to subsidise solidarity payments to clubs eliminated in the qualifying phase of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

UEFA Champions League

Share for 12 clubs participating in UEFA Champions League play-offs
A total of €30m will be paid out to clubs involved in the UEFA Champions League play-offs: clubs that are eliminated will each receive a fixed payment of €5m. The winners of the play-offs will not receive any specific payment for this round but will get payments for participating in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Share for clubs competing in UEFA Champions League (group stage onwards)
Forecast amounts (total €1.95bn)
The net revenue available to participating clubs will be divided into four different pillars:
• 25% will be allocated to the starting fees (€488m).
• 30% will be allocated to the performance-related fixed amounts (€585m).
• 30% will be distributed on the basis of ten-year performance-based coefficient rankings (€585m).
• 15% will be allocated to the variable amounts (market pool) (€292m).

Starting fees (€488m)
Each of the 32 clubs that qualify for the group stage can expect to receive a group stage allocation of €15.25m.

Fixed amounts (€585m)
Group stage performance bonuses will be paid for each match: €2.7m per win and €900,000 per draw. Undistributed amounts (€900,000 per draw) will be pooled and redistributed among the clubs playing in the group stage in amounts proportionate to their number of wins.

Clubs that qualify for the knockout stage can expect to receive the following amounts:
• qualification for the round of 16: €9.5m per club
• qualification for the quarter-finals: €10.5m per club
• qualification for the semi-finals: €12m per club
• qualification for the final: €15m per club
• The UEFA Champions League winners can expect to pick up an additional €4m.
• The two clubs that qualify for the 2018 UEFA Super Cup can each expect to receive €3.5m, with the winners collecting an additional €1m.

Coefficient ranking (€585m)
A new ranking has been introduced on the basis of performances over a ten-year period. In addition to coefficient points accumulated during this period, this ranking includes bonus points for winning the UEFA Champions League/European Champion Clubs' Cup, the UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup. On the basis of these parameters, a ranking has been established and the total amount of €585.05m has been divided into 'coefficient shares', with each share worth €1.108m. The lowest-ranked team will receive one share (€1.108m). One share will be added to every rank and so the highest-ranked team will receive 32 shares (€35.46m).


Market pool (€292m)
The estimated available amount of €292m will be distributed in accordance with the proportional value of each TV market represented by clubs taking part in the UEFA Champions League (group stage onwards). The different market shares will be distributed to the participating clubs from each association.

The various amounts distributed from the market pool on a club-by-club basis depend on five factors:

1) the actual final amount in the market pool
2) the composition of the field of clubs participating in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League
3) the number of clubs from any given association competing in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League
4) the final position of each competing club in their previous season's domestic championship
5) the performance of each club in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League



Solidarity payments

Solidarity payments for the qualifying phase of the UEFA club competitions

Under the new distribution system, €107.5m will be distributed to the clubs as follows.

UEFA Champions League – champions and league paths
Each domestic champion club that does not qualify for the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League group stage will receive €260,000 in addition to the amounts due for participation in each qualifying round.

Each club participating in the qualifying rounds that does not qualify for the UCL play-offs will receive the following amounts per round played:
• preliminary round – €230,000
• first qualifying round – €280,000
• second qualifying round – €380,000
• third qualifying round – €480,000 (Only for clubs eliminated from the champions path, since clubs eliminated from the league path qualify directly for the UEFA Europa League group stage and therefore benefit from its distribution system.)
• No solidarity payments will be paid in the play-offs as the clubs involved will benefit from the UEFA Champions League/UEFA Europa League centralised phase distribution.

Solidarity payments to clubs that do not qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League or the UEFA Europa League

The solidarity payments to non-participating clubs via their national associations and/or leagues will represent 4% of the overall gross revenues of the two competitions.

A forecast total of €130m will therefore be distributed to national associations and/or leagues for their clubs.

 

[rabby]

I seem to recall Marseille being stripped of the European cup in the early 90s for financial misdemeanours?

They weren't stripped of EC,they were stripped of league title and not allowed entry into following seasons EC.

 

[Kenward Garg]

The people of this country are being routinely programmed to think a certain way. Another obvious example is the complete absence in reporting yellow vest protests and civil unrest in France. I get all my news from independent sources now.

Occasionally the better half has insisted on watching BBC ‘news’. I have to sit there watch somebody like Will (Gompells or something) the Arts correspondent bemoaning lack of diversity at some awards ceremony. The hypocrisy knows no bounds.

I know what you mean. I beg my Mum to stop watching the news because it’s lies but more worrying is it’s negativity. Some wise soul once quipped “Would you invite these people into your home because that’s what you’re doing when you turn on the TV.

 

[OB1]

Lol. Not about being spineless. Reputation and integrity matter.

They do but as far as I am concerned City are in the right and simply trying to deal with a corrupt regime. Hopefully the justice will eventually be done.

 

[Barcon]

Is there a link to Martin Samuel on Sunday supplement anywhere? Sorry if it's been discussed (5 hours behind over here).