journalist Jonathan Norcroft and Colin Savage talk FFP

George Hannah said:
don't understand you friend - but just for the avoidance of doubt I think we have the best team, best club and best owners in the world (and even on some days the best manager.)
Click to expand...
You seem to be quite outspoken on PB. Again your thoughts.....
 
fallowfield said:
Maybe Colin or someone else can clarify this...but I don't think it was highlighted sufficiently....

My main takeaway from watching this was re the point made around the sponsorship funding from Etihad, Aabar that Colin referred to being revealed up in a US court case.
I understood it to mean that it's OK & allowed if 'other sources' from within Abu Dhabi or elsewhere actually contribute the money that Eithad, Aabar sponsor City with.
But it's not OK if money towards these sponsorships comes from ADUG or Mansoor himself - and if that's what happened we will be punished.
Click to expand...
I understood that the information was published in the USA as part of an investigation into the middle east airlines having state aid That the money was provided to Etihad by Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan the ruler of the UAE? in which case it’s fine This is the HH mentioned in the email not Mansour
 
Last edited:
George Hannah said:
Our resident FFP expert (and on much else besides) would be a better witness for the prosecution. In short as far as PB is concerned we're guilty as charged - breaking rules on FFP, third party ownership, payments in respect of minors etc etc - not to mention of sportswashing the many shortcomings of the UAE as he sees them.
Click to expand...
Nick? That you?
 
Personally I thought PB came across well and represented the club very fairly, it's impossible to deny there are issues surrounding human rights in the UAE or, regardless of your thoughts on FFP, that the Der Spiegel articles have raised questions regarding the finances of the club. The whole point of the discussion was to bring some factual content to the articles, for PB to simply deny those issues or go full out defensive just makes us (the fans) look blinkered and irrational. It's not easy to have a meaningful debate with someone who knows so little, and who really isn't interested in, the finer details of how FFP was applied to City. Norcroft has an agenda, I don't think for a moment it's 'anti City', but the current hot topic is the continuing allegations coming out about us and it's his remit to generate as much interest for his newspaper from them. If he seriously can't understand why City fans think there's a witch hunt against us then he's not too bright. Virtually everything coming from Der Spiegel currently is anti Man City, if they have a huge box of dirt to dish on any other club then maybe, if they started publishing some of that, we might start to believe we aren't the prime target both at home and abroad.
 
George Hannah said:
Our resident FFP expert (and on much else besides) would be a better witness for the prosecution. In short as far as PB is concerned we're guilty as charged - breaking rules on FFP, third party ownership, payments in respect of minors etc etc - not to mention of sportswashing the many shortcomings of the UAE as he sees them.
Click to expand...

I didn't get that at all from the video.

PB and Johnathan Norcroft both gave reasoned, intelligent and articulate views on the situation.

I think there is a tendency among some to see any comment that isn't lavishing City / ADUG / Mansour with praise is "evidence for the prosecution". That's a myopic, extreme and simple view to take.

Just because you're a City fan, it doesn't mean you have to completely agree with everything politically in the UAE.

There are plenty of things I disagree with the UAE politically. There are plenty of things I disagree with the UK ruling bodies politically. But I can separate the politics from supporting City, or wanting England to win the World Cup.

That's the message I took from what PB was saying also. Right minded City fans don't blindly support the political situation in the UAE. But he made good, intelligent points that they are a new democracy, they are arguably more moderate than their neighbours in the region, and they are opening themselves up to the West and with that comes scrutiny.

If you blindly support everything politically about the UAE and the UK simply because you support City and the England team, it doesn't make you look like a bigger fan than everyone else. It just makes you look a bit silly.
 
George Hannah said:
Colin is a very sharp guy, he knows what he's doing and defending the club under its present ownership isn't part of his mission.
Click to expand...

I didn’t get the vibe of anything untoward or unfair in what PB said. The reality is that our owners are leading lights in a country that has numerous shortcomings by Western democratic standards, and we are a propaganda device for them. Pretending that everything in the UAE is sweetness and light would make us look like chumps. Like Northcroft said, ethics are an issue for individuals and we each have our own personal lines in the sand. Mine are not sufficiently compromised for me to stop going to matches, but that doesn’t mean they mightn’t be (compromised) one day.
 
Exeter Blue I am here said:
I didn’t get the vibe of anything untoward or unfair in what PB said. The reality is that our owners are leading lights in a country that has numerous shortcomings by Western democratic standards, and we are a propaganda device for them. Pretending that everything in the UAE is sweetness and light would make us look like chumps. Like Northcroft said, ethics are an issue for individuals and we each have our own personal lines in the sand. Mine are not sufficiently compromised for me to stop going to matches, but that doesn’t mean they mightn’t be (compromised) one day.
Click to expand...
Feeling soiled by all that dirty oil money? It's sad to see the contemptible anti Arab agenda pumped out by the UEFA elite and its parasite rag/dipper media allies claiming victims on here.
 
George Hannah said:
Feeling soiled by all that dirty oil money? It's sad to see the contemptible anti Arab agenda pumped out by the UEFA elite and its parasite rag/dipper media allies claiming victims on here.
Click to expand...

You must have missed the bit where I said that ownership by ADUG hadn’t crossed my personal line in the sand and that I continue to go to matches. And who stuck a bug up your arse anyway?
 
Exeter Blue I am here said:
I didn’t get the vibe of anything untoward or unfair in what PB said. The reality is that our owners are leading lights in a country that has numerous shortcomings by Western democratic standards, and we are a propaganda device for them. Pretending that everything in the UAE is sweetness and light would make us look like chumps. Like Northcroft said, ethics are an issue for individuals and we each have our own personal lines in the sand. Mine are not sufficiently compromised for me to stop going to matches, but that doesn’t mean they mightn’t be (compromised) one day.
Click to expand...

tbh I dont give a damn about human rights in UAE with regards to sportswashing and City. I obviously do care about Human Rights but not when it being used to solely to beat City up and make us accountable.

The whole country was watching the Abu Dhabi F1 a few weeks ago and nothing was being said about sportwashing or human rights! I think this rag media propaganda has even brainwashed some City fans into believing this is something Manchester City have to sort out!

It would be good to do something about Human Rights, but what about Utds involvement with Saudi, or Sky News with Abu Dhabi. Are they going to be told to do something?
 
Gorton_Tubster said:
tbh I dont give a damn about human rights in UAE with regards to sportswashing and City. I obviously do care about Human Rights but not when it being used to solely to beat City up and make us accountable.

The whole country was watching the Abu Dhabi F1 a few weeks ago and nothing was being said about sportwashing or human rights! I think this rag media propaganda has even brainwashed some City fans into believing this is something Manchester City have to sort out!

It would be good to do something about Human Rights, but what about Utds involvement with Saudi, or Sky News with Abu Dhabi. Are they going to be told to do something?
Click to expand...

I agree completely
 
Exeter Blue I am here said:
You must have missed the bit where I said that ownership by ADUG hadn’t crossed my personal line in the sand and that I continue to go to matches. And who stuck a bug up your arse anyway?
Click to expand...
Yes, because you didn't say it - just

"The reality is that our owners are leading lights in a country that has numerous shortcomings by Western democratic standards, and we are a propaganda device for them. Pretending that everything in the UAE is sweetness and light would make us look like chumps. Like Northcroft said, ethics are an issue for individuals and we each have our own personal lines in the sand. Mine are not sufficiently compromised for me to stop going to matches, but that doesn’t mean they mightn’t be (compromised) one day. "

Nice of you to put our owners on notice about your sensitivities though - it might be very uncomfortable with all that sand up your own fundament.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SVP
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top