Unfortunately the computer I was using back in 2014 is no longer with us and most of the information on it was lost. This lost information includes almost everything relating the our "FFP crisis" especially the text of the settlement and of City's statement. I rely on my feelings and reactions back in 2014 for this post but I was amazed when I read City's statement. I thought UEFA would not impose any sanctions, mainly because I believed we had complied with the regulations but also because the regulations were clearly a denial of the right to invest which UEFA would not wish to expose to a court case. My first reaction was anger and a wish for vengeance but, when I read the club's statement, I saw things in a completely different light. There was no hint of remorse in City's tone, rather it gave the impression of lecturing UEFA that the "pinch" was all City would tolerate, then and for all times. When I read what else had been agreed I was furious at the CL squad limitation (which really was ineffective because we were scraping the barrel in those days to fill squad places) but I couldn't believe what UEFA had agreed to, especially with regard to CFG. This, unfortunately, is where my memory is no longer as good as it was so the details are vague/forgotten.
I concluded that UEFA had been completely bamboozled by our club's negotiators and lawyers and that City had agreed to the "pinch" to get UEFA's acceptance of the massive expansion of the club and the group that ADUG had planned. In the light of PB's earlier posts on this thread I now accept his assertions that it was UEFA who were desperate for a settlement to avoid a legal challenge while saving face, because they feel they are highly unlikely to withstand a legal challenge and wished to settle the matter once and for all.
