PL charge City for alleged breaches of financial rules

[BerkshireBlue]

I agree with you 100% mate. I was just talking hypothetically if they're able to prove he received some of his salary off the books. It makes no sense to do that for the reasons you mention though. I mean, we included all of Roque Santa Cruz's transfer fee and wages on the books just 6 months or so before we appointed Mancini!

there was nothing in the rules to say you couldn't do that via a 3rd party company. Player contracts you need full renumeration details, managers wasn't the case until the PL amended the rules well after Mancini left. The Mancini stuff will be time barred as no concealment or fraud has occured plus no rules were broken

 

[Bodicoteblue]

Any hackers want to go fishing?

They will say no grounds to investigate.

The clearly spliced, manipulated and ilegally obtained emails is enough to warrant attacking the club by plastering 115 all over the media which allowed the cheating narrative to burn bitter and bright.

The puppet is controlled by a collusion of business owners looking to keep the gravy train and stifle competition.

The leagues neutrality and competitive nature stopped existing once the anti competition clubs controlled masters.

Thats the real story here.

Surely the PL has never really been neutral and competitive simply because, from the very beginning, the old cartel clubs - particularly the rags - went hand-in-hand with Sky to ensure the lions’ share of the enormous wealth that was being generated came their way.
When a rag told me this was bollocks, I pointed out to him the simple fact that it had taken his club 85 years to win their first 7 top flight titles, but only 21 years of the PL to win their next 13, having spent enormous sums on players.
Where did all that spending power come from??

 

[slbsn]

Rule changes snuck out by the PL

 

[halfcenturyup]

Doesn't it depend on the classification of the Mancini allegation?
As I understand it some time limits kick in from the date the claimant became aware which could be some time after the event actually occurred.

The PL had six years from the date of discovery (2018-2024 which they met) if the matter involves fraud or concealment. I doubt the PL could prove either of those to the standard required, so it is six years from the event (at the latest 2013-2019 which they didn't meet, so it will most likely be time limited).

Iirc and all imho.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

Rule changes snuck out by the PL

They never learn. Still playing legislative wac-a-mole in a reactive way.
Wouldn't surprise me if they try to go after Leicester again by retrospectively applying their new rules. Clowns.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

Some will bury their head in the sand in the same way other fans will if we are found not guilty. Thats just football fans for you though and means nothing.

If we are found guilty and proven without doubt about the serious stuff, it will fucking devastate me as everything we’ve done will forever be tainted. This, by the way if we see what has been proven without doubt.

Luckily for us all I’m confident in Khaldoon’s continued insistence we have done nothing wrong. He’s said it that many times no it must be true.

We will need to see the evidence from both sides. If the PL do prove wrongdoing then we will have to face the consequences. But I am as sure as anyone can be that this has been a witch-hunt from start to finish. Most of the toxic media briefings from our commercial rivals have been totally false. Remember the fake “Pinto is a whistleblower” or the fake “time barred” narratives for starters.

 

[waspish]

Rule changes snuck out by the PL

See !? when they want to they can fill the loophole! So why didn't they shut the loophole down with the hotel sales woman's team sale?

Ah yeah they are American owners with a hedge fund backers and who are those investors!? Who now use these clubs as cash cows!

Used Ai for why in America they restrict hedge funds purchases mostly

Oh you probably already know this!

The premise that the U.S. doesn't allow hedge funds to purchase sports teams or sports companies isn't entirely accurate. While there are restrictions in place, they don't amount to a complete ban. Here's the breakdown:

Major U.S. sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL have historically been cautious about institutional investors, such as hedge funds or private equity firms, owning teams due to concerns over governance, long-term stability, and the unique cultural role of sports franchises. These leagues often prefer individual owners or small ownership groups who can be held accountable and align with the league's values. However, the landscape has shifted in recent years.

### Key Reasons for Restrictions:
1. **Control and Decision-Making**: Leagues want to ensure that team owners prioritize the franchise's and league's long-term health over short-term financial gains. Hedge funds, often focused on maximizing returns, might push for strategies (e.g., asset stripping or cost-cutting) that could conflict with the team's community ties or competitive goals.

2. **Regulatory Oversight**: Hedge funds face less regulatory scrutiny than public companies, raising concerns about transparency. Leagues worry about who the ultimate investors are behind a fund, as some could be foreign entities, controversial figures, or sovereign wealth funds, which leagues like the NFL have historically avoided.

3. **League-Specific Rules**: Each league sets its own ownership policies. For example:
- The NFL has been the strictest, only recently allowing private equity firms to buy minority stakes (up to 10%) in 2024, but still limits hedge fund involvement to avoid speculative investment strategies.[](https://www.sportico.com/business/finance/2024/nfl-private-equity-sports-investments-1234794052/)[](https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/law/academics/sportslaw/commentary/mslj_blog/2024/BringingPrivateEquityintoPlayTheNFLsApprovalofPrivateEquityInvestors.html)
- The NBA and MLB have loosened restrictions since 2019, permitting hedge funds and private equity to buy minority stakes (up to 30% in some cases), but control remains with individual owners.[](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/06/private-equity-sports-investments-neared-2-billion-in-2021-nba-hot.html)[](https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/law/academics/sportslaw/commentary/mslj_blog/2024/BringingPrivateEquityintoPlayTheNFLsApprovalofPrivateEquityInvestors.html)

4. **Historical Precedent**: Some hedge fund managers who invested in sports teams saw their funds struggle, fueling skepticism. For instance, John W. Henry’s commodity trading firm shrank significantly after he bought the Boston Red Sox, and Philip Falcone’s Harbinger Capital faced issues after investing in the Minnesota Wild. This led to a perception that sports ownership could distract from or destabilize fund performance.[](https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/2bsu3y1mf9ck2x5rn6kg0/portfolio/why-hedge-fund-managers-should-never-buy-sports-teams)[](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-04-20/when-hedge-fund-owners-invest-in-sports-teams)

### Why It's Not a Total Ban:
- **Minority Stakes Allowed**: Leagues like the NBA, MLB, and NHL now permit hedge funds to purchase non-controlling stakes. For example, Arctos Sports Partners has invested in the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.[](https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2022/06/07/stock-market-concern-has-piqued-interest-in-owning-sports-teams/)[](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/06/private-equity-sports-investments-neared-2-billion-in-2021-nba-hot.html)
- **Evolving Market**: Soaring team valuations (e.g., NFL teams averaging $5.9 billion in 2024) have made it harder for individuals to buy teams outright, pushing leagues to allow institutional capital for liquidity.[](https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/law/academics/sportslaw/commentary/mslj_blog/2024/BringingPrivateEquityintoPlayTheNFLsApprovalofPrivateEquityInvestors.html)
- **Sports Betting and Media Revenue**: The rise of sports betting and lucrative media deals has made sports franchises more attractive to hedge funds, prompting leagues to relax rules to capitalize on this interest.[](https://www.yieldstreet.com/blog/article/the-growing-role-of-institutional-money-in-sports/)[](https://www.foley.com/insights/publications/2020/11/private-equity-institutional-investment-sports/)

### Critical Perspective:
The restrictions might also reflect entrenched interests. Existing owners, often billionaires themselves, may resist hedge funds to maintain their exclusive control over a lucrative, status-driven industry. On the flip side, hedge funds aren't inherently destructive—many could bring sophisticated financial strategies to improve team operations. The cautious approach seems more about protecting the "old guard" than a clear economic rationale, especially as leagues have already embraced private equity, which operates similarly to hedge funds.

In short, the U.S. doesn't outright prohibit hedge funds from owning sports teams, but leagues impose tight controls to balance financial innovation with the preservation of their governance and public image. If you want specifics on a particular league or team, let me know!

 

[slbsn]

An excellent summary at this point in time....

:-)

It isn't. If you think nobody has a fucking clue you would have been amazed what the general knowledge of the case would have been without this thread. And you can add to that the general outside world understanding too.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

Don't fall for any defeatist claptrap, genuine Blues! There is far more irrefutable evidence of unlawful activity by the PL and no evidence at all of any by City.

In fact at this point the only organisation which has been proved to have acted illegally is the PL in the APT case.

 

[calumdown]

general question for those (possibly) in the know...

presumably there will be several hundred pages when the final outcome is delivered.

how many people work on the writing up of those pages?
it can't just be the 3 who heard the case, can it?
do they have subordinates who help?
do the lawyers check every page as it is written or wait for a batch?

the a.p.t. one took 3months to write up 90pages, didn't it?
that's a page a day if they work a full week, which i doubt they do.
we could waiting for a very very long time.
they have to be 100% thorough with it.

just askin'.

 

[Vic]

Rule changes snuck out by the PL

Approved by clubs when?

 

[homerdog]

It isn't. If you think nobody has a fucking clue you would have been amazed what the general knowledge of the case would have been without this thread. And you can add to that the general outside world understanding too.

To be fair, I think he was alluding to the fact that nobody has a clue what the outcome of the case will be.

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

and your point is?

A settlement means we settled for a million quid, we can't take that money then go and cry to the Premier League about it.

 

[ArdwickBlue_M12]

Honestly I can see this dragging on for a few years. not arsed anymore

 

[Xhavenjoe]

general question for those (possibly) in the know...

presumably there will be several hundred pages when the final outcome is delivered.

You're going to be busy checking all those pages for spelling mistakes and missing commas ( or is it commas?

 

[moomba]

A settlement means we settled for a million quid, we can't take that money then go and cry to the Premier League about it.

No but if there is evidence that a club has committed an offence against the league rules, they don't need us to make a complaint.

 

[Jesus H Gabz]

They never learn. Still playing legislative wac-a-mole in a reactive way.
Wouldn't surprise me if they try to go after Leicester again by retrospectively applying their new rules. Clowns.

Me thinks Rick Parry will be on their case the minute they touch base in the championship

 

[Stoned Rose]

Rule changes snuck out by the PL

Cunts.

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

No but if there is evidence that a club has committed an offence against the league rules, they don't need us to make a complaint.

It's the scousers we're talking about here, they could launch an attack on a bus full of opposition players or maim a young child and nothing would happen, oh hang on...

 

[Stoned Rose]

general question for those (possibly) in the know...

presumably there will be several hundred pages when the final outcome is delivered.

how many people work on the writing up of those pages?
it can't just be the 3 who heard the case, can it?
do they have subordinates who help?
do the lawyers check every page as it is written or wait for a batch?

the a.p.t. one took 3months to write up 90pages, didn't it?
that's a page a day if they work a full week, which i doubt they do.
we could waiting for a very very long time.
they have to be 100% thorough with it.

just askin'.

Not answering until you start using capitals.