PL charge City for alleged breaches of financial rules

[slbsn]

I very much hope it'll emerge that the PL has overstretched itself in prosecuting allegations that basically amount to City having committed serious accounting fraud for the best part of a decade. I also understand the inherent difficulties in making out allegations of that nature to a satisfactory standard of proof.

I'm therefore cautiously optimistic from an MCFC perspective as to an outcome I'd regard as satisfactory. And before anyone asks why caution, it's due to a large degree because that quality is inculcated in anyone who trains and then works for an extended period as a lawyer. Nonetheless, the aspects you mention do make it look as though the PL has given nailing us a proper shot.

Completely agree

 

[halfcenturyup]

Completely agree

Get a room, you two :)

 

[Bantamgaz]

Sorry to cut your post down but, this is where it starts and ends for the sheep.

It certainly is whenever I've bothered to engage with them.

Sheep that believe the likes of what Simon Jordan says without looking into what he did in his time of a football club.

Sadly thats what you have in the modern game braindead twats who will believe what is put out there.................honestly you could run rings around these fookers but why waste your time if these loons think that Jordan knows it all.

Manchester City turned the game into an area that the red cartel didnt like and thats the big issue..............you really think had City not been succesfull this would be going on ??????
Would it fook its all down to jealously nothing more the PL are mere puppets for clubs that think they are entitled to win everything without being challenged ..............

 

[I'm Blue]

If we get found guilty on even 1 charge then the narrative will be as expected.GUILTY,CHEATS,ONLY PAID THEM OFF ETC.
Jordan will be giving it large with his 'Nuances' on Talksport.
Buckle up and get the popcorn out.

Even if we get cleared on all charges we’ll still be branded cheats and that we’ve paid them off.
Honestly don’t care just as long as we’re cleared of any serious charges and we don’t get any sanctions.
I’ll gladly take a fine for non cooperation, even if we have cooperated.
As long as our league position is safe I don’t give a shit.

 

[Bantamgaz]

Even if we get cleared on all charges we’ll still be branded cheats and that we’ve paid them off.
Honestly don’t care just as long as we’re cleared of any serious charges and we don’t get any sanctions.
I’ll gladly take a fine for non cooperation, even if we have cooperated.
As long as our league position is safe I don’t give a shit.

Branded cheats to a bunch of plastic cunts who aint got a clue ...........who gives a shit anyhow ........i mean anyone who listens to Talkshite is not right in the head anyhow.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

First thanks for those kind words from @petrusha - fortunately, I don't think I saw the allegations that I've misrepresented the seriousness.

On PB's response, you have to separate your view of the outcome (ie emphatically convinced City will be cleared) and the nature of the allegations. I think you are conflating your view of the outcome with the allegations themselves. Regardless of whether someone successfully defends an allegation of fraud, it doesn't make the allegation any less serious.

Unless every analysis in the media is guided by my analysis as to the substance of what is alleged (clearly not the case), then the parties themselves are guiding (or at very least not dissuading writers) that the serious false accounting allegations detailed at CAS are being re-litigated here but with an English law process and, inevitably, a lot more disclosure. And of course, a raft of other less substantial matters to bulk up the case.

For me, that plus a 12 week hearing makes it look like that these allegations, whether proven or not, are obviously as serious as those at CAS or more. We don't need to repeat City's own words at CAS but they were clearly not "inconsequential". If what you mean is that here there are a bunch of serious allegations and some less consequential ones then we can all agree with that.

Nobody would suggest that the Mancini allegations are as serious as the CAS allegations and if your point is that there was no need to frame it all as ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN CHARGES, you know I also agree. But nobody should lose sight of the fact that no unserious matter is "tried" over 12 weeks and costs, perhaps £50m of legal costs.

It really all depends on the motivation for bringing the charges.

Your view (and I understand it) is that the PL has cause for concern over our accounting practices and general probity as an organisation, independent of any other motivation or influence.

My view is that this is just a continuation of a campaign by a group of US-owned clubs who have bent the PL hierarchy to their will in order to pursue a case that impacts our reputation even if there is little or no substance to it.

We could actually both be right in our views to a greater or lesser extent but we really don't know the exact nature of the charges.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Even if we get cleared on all charges we’ll still be branded cheats and that we’ve paid them off.
Honestly don’t care just as long as we’re cleared of any serious charges and we don’t get any sanctions.
I’ll gladly take a fine for non cooperation, even if we have cooperated.
As long as our league position is safe I don’t give a shit.

Perhaps the best post I've read on the thread for a good bit.

!00% agree.
This case was never about convictions, and all about the allegations.

My hope is yours, that we can put it in the dustbin of history and move on.

 

[GSW Blue]

This will all be irrelevant and mostly forgotten in 10 years time.

Our treble winning, four in a row, Centurions will be remembered long after all of us are gone.

 

[crystal_mais]

It really all depends on the motivation for bringing the charges.

Your view (and I understand it) is that the PL has cause for concern over our accounting practices and general probity as an organisation, independent of any other motivation or influence.

My view is that this is just a continuation of a campaign by a group of US-owned clubs who have bent the PL hierarchy to their will in order to pursue a case that impacts our reputation even if there is little or no substance to it.

We could actually both be right in our views to a greater or lesser extent but we really don't know the exact nature of the charges.

Although I very much would like to believe this is all just a witch hunt to do us by a small minority of clubs who we seem to have knocked off their cosy pedestal (which it partially maybe).

But the emails that were stolen via the hack do not fully paint us in the best picture which in turn would need some form of investigation. The ones published after CAS were quite brutal but again what was the full context and outcome.

I'm not clear on the full contents of the case but assume the PL are basically wanting an explanation of the emails which seemed genuine.

 

[Blueknows]

Although I very much would like to believe this is all just a witch hunt to do us by a small minority of clubs who we seem to have knocked off their cosy pedestal (which it partially maybe).

But the emails that were stolen via the hack do not fully paint us in the best picture which in turn would need some form of investigation. The ones published after CAS were quite brutal but again what was the full context and outcome.

I'm not clear on the full contents of the case but assume the PL are basically wanting an explanation of the emails which seemed genuine.

emails can be doctored , obtained illegally and snippets from them cobbled together taken out of context , hardly a smoking gun considering what theyre accusing us of

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I'm not clear on the full contents of the case

This thread has ~9000 pages of all you need to know.

Grab a cuppa and get cracking!

 

[Claytop]

Although I very much would like to believe this is all just a witch hunt to do us by a small minority of clubs who we seem to have knocked off their cosy pedestal (which it partially maybe).

But the emails that were stolen via the hack do not fully paint us in the best picture which in turn would need some form of investigation. The ones published after CAS were quite brutal but again what was the full context and outcome.

I'm not clear on the full contents of the case but assume the PL are basically wanting an explanation of the emails which seemed genuine.

Yep, this. I don't think it helps anyone if we try to dismiss the emails that we know exist as doctored/obtained illegally etc. They exist and City have to provide a good enough explanation why we didn't do what seems to be laid out in the emails. Of course we have only seen a fraction of what will have been disclosed but to completely dismiss them out of hand seems naive.

 

[Chappie]

Although I very much would like to believe this is all just a witch hunt to do us by a small minority of clubs who we seem to have knocked off their cosy pedestal (which it partially maybe).

But the emails that were stolen via the hack do not fully paint us in the best picture which in turn would need some form of investigation. The ones published after CAS were quite brutal but again what was the full context and outcome.

I'm not clear on the full contents of the case but assume the PL are basically wanting an explanation of the emails which seemed genuine.

How long were you in jail and when did they release you ?

 

[Omar the King]

It rather depends on how you define influence. I’m sure even Etihad are actually influenced by Mansour, but who cares? (The PL, apparently!)
They are all shit scared of us.

Word. I guess they saw the PL faux rules on related parties coming years ago—that's why they were so aggressive about the PwC report in 2013.

 

[The Colonel]

It really all depends on the motivation for bringing the charges.

Your view (and I understand it) is that the PL has cause for concern over our accounting practices and general probity as an organisation, independent of any other motivation or influence.

My view is that this is just a continuation of a campaign by a group of US-owned clubs who have bent the PL hierarchy to their will in order to pursue a case that impacts our reputation even if there is little or no substance to it.

We could actually both be right in our views to a greater or lesser extent but we really don't know the exact nature of the charges.

Indeed, your political angle over Stefan’s cautious legal standpoint was borne out when we realised that UEFA did only have those emails after all.
And like you that’s not a criticism, both inputs are invaluable on here.

 

[gocity]

When my granddad had a chill, I covered his back with goose fat. He went downhill very quickly after that.

Silly man, it should have been his chest, then he would have been OK

 

[Blue Maverick]

Silly man, it should have been his chest, then he would have been OK

Woosh

 

[the blue panther]

When my granddad had a chill, I covered his back with goose fat. He went downhill very quickly after that.

You should have tried some eggs - chopped-up - in a cup.

 

[slbsn]

Although I very much would like to believe this is all just a witch hunt to do us by a small minority of clubs who we seem to have knocked off their cosy pedestal (which it partially maybe).

But the emails that were stolen via the hack do not fully paint us in the best picture which in turn would need some form of investigation. The ones published after CAS were quite brutal but again what was the full context and outcome.

I'm not clear on the full contents of the case but assume the PL are basically wanting an explanation of the emails which seemed genuine.

I agree and I have agreed with Simon Jordan's big point that there is a case to answer. The question is whether a) the UEFA was that case b) the case could have been answered without charges. We will see.

And the emails we've seen are genuine - arguing they are not or that they have been materially doctored, goes nowhere.

 

[slbsn]

Indeed, your political angle over Stefan’s cautious legal standpoint was borne out when we realised that UEFA did only have those emails after all.
And like you that’s not a criticism, both inputs are invaluable on here.

I know it is not a criticism etc but I don't understand this point. Firstly, I don't recall giving any view about the evidential basis of the UEFA case. We had almost no information about that case before CAS. Plus we know for sure, the PL has loads of documents far beyond UEFA. So where does that fit in?

The reality is the investigation is both political and legitimate. Whether the charges are we will see in time.