Hi
I am a Watford supporter although I lived in Manchester in the past and spoke to Manchester City fans. I just wanted to say that FFP the way its designed is terrible for the sport. It limits competition as its perfectly OK for clubs to spend whatever they like if they get big sponsorship deals ( which increase with regular Champions League participation), its OK for a team to go into crippling debt but its not OK for an owner to invest their own money ( good owners care about the club more than a commercial sponsor does) in order to bridge the gap to regular Champions League teams who get the biggest natural income. In other words big sponsorship deals are 'natural' and 'good' income according to the current rules but generous money from an owner is ' doping' and 'cheating'.
My team Watford would probably be a non league or at best League 2 team for most of the past 40 years if Elton John had not invested funds into the team he supports in the 1970s and 1980s. If FFP was around in the 1970s and 1980s Elton John would almost certainly not of arrived at Watford, in division 4 upon his arrival, Graham Taylor would not of been appointed, and Watford would not of stormed through the each of the leagues before remarkably finishing 2nd in the 1st division in the 1982-83 season. Elton John would not of arrived at Watford with FFP in place because he would have been unable to invest his own money and have as much influence on the club as he did in the 1970s and 1980s. Other clubs such as Arsenal would not have the history or stature they do without massive investment in the 1930s. They were known as the Bank Of England due to spending vast amounts of money on players and stadium developments. They broke the British transfer record by spending 10 grand on David Jack. This investment enabled Arsenal to win the league title 5 times in the 1930s.
Regarding Manchester City's appeal I read the articles posted and understood most of the points made. It seems a ludicrous that UEFA appeared to break its own rules i.e. opening up a case from years ago that already had a settlement based on a few hacked emails. What I wanted to ask is that as far as I understand UEFA were willing to give Manchester City a small punishment last December if Manchester City's owners admitted guilt. Why not just admit guilt and get the small punishment instead of risking a far more severe punishment which is what has happened? I am guessing is was a matter of principle as your owners believed they were innocent and had stringently kept to FFP rules.