The only thing that has slowed our international growth is covid and SM not putting equity in disguised as sponsorship, in my opinion.I actually think it's all about how much bad publicity City will get. Even if the PL know they will fail, the damage gets done anyway. It slows down our international growth because people believe all the bs.
Brilliant repose @gordondaviesmoustache. I agree with every word of it and in 20 months time when everyone has the benefit of hindsight this should be reposted as “I told you so” statement.You are entitled to your opinion, and of course it’s perfectly possible you are right, but I’ve based my view on a combination of what we have before us evidentially and the absence of any leaks; the parties involved; the likelihood that the club committed fraud on this scale and for such an extended period, especially given the involvement of auditors; the putative absence of any whistleblowers to corroborate the allegations; the protagonists behind the scene - the power they wield, plus their tack record and motives; the pace at which matters have progressed; the noises coming via backchannels from the club; the continued trajectory of players coming to the club, further sponsorship from high profile investors and accelerated infrastructure investment; the previous UEFA charges (and their complete lack of substance) and the fact that Richard Masters is a **** - and concluded that this is the most likely explanation
Not saying it’s nailed on, but fwiw, I’m confident I’m likely to be correct.
I think the fact you believe there is some substance to these allegations based solely on the fact of the charges themselves is exactly what the PL (or rather those that have pressured them) want. As others have said before me, the punishment is the charges. And if a City fan thinks what you think, then it’s clearly working.
Do you believe the PL categorically know they have absolutely nothing, but are going along with it anyway, knowing fine well they will fail?
You do realise how different the two cases are? In both nature and scale, right. As has been shown on this thread a fair few times.
Apart from the fact I meant to put antagonists and put protagonists instead!Brilliant repose @gordondaviesmoustache. I agree with every word of it and in 20 months time when everyone has the benefit of hindsight this should be reposted as “I told you so” statement.
I'm happy with the rate of international growth. It's impressive watching vids of massive supporter groups from all over the world. That's WITH the bad publicity.The only thing that has slowed our international growth is covid and SM not putting equity in disguised as sponsorship, in my opinion.
Been thinking this for a while nowDoes anyone think that firstly us,then Everton and now supposedly a few more clubs including forest and Villa was it,that there’s a power struggle now coming to a head behind the scenes and certain clubs are taking sides,or am I talking bollocks ..
Does anyone think that firstly us,then Everton and now supposedly a few more clubs including forest and Villa was it,that there’s a power struggle now coming to a head behind the scenes and certain clubs are taking sides,or am I talking bollocks ..
Just to be clear, the emails were the grounds, rather than the evidence, on which UEFA justified undertaking its investigation, which CAS felt was justified. There were other stories, including the Mancini contract, the Fordham image rights payments (which UEFA already knew about) and a few other things. Generally speaking, it requires a reasonable suspicion that rules or laws have been broken for an investigation and requesting evidence to take place, and the Der Spiegel articles provided that.I remember way back when PB told us that at a meeting at the club (2019?) he was told that UEFA had no evidence other than 6 stolen emails. This was greeted by those there with incredulity followed by uproarious laughter. When the matter went before CAS UEFA produced no evidence beyond 6 emails, 2 of which had been doctored. When CAS ruled in our favour the PL was quick to announce that its investigation was not at an end, though it did go rather quiet. Then early last year the PL produced its 115 charges of financial impropriety against our club, the richest (in FFP terms in the world!). A cynic might think that the failure of FFP to halt our path to legitimate riches, not relying on dirty oil money at all, City's wealth must be the result of cheating, MUST BE! PB reported that the new life in the PL's crusade was not in fact driven by Masters and Co, but was the result of pressure, especially from Levy. Tolmie said that his information was that the PL wanted nothing to do with the affair.
All this raises the question of the evidence - if any - which is the basis of the charges, which seem very similar to those brought by UEFA. At that time, despite City's claim that the charges were untrue (completely untrue) there were periodic claims that UEFA's case was proven beyond all doubt, that they had a 'smoking gun' and that this was in the documents provided by City. In the event they had only 6 tatty, stolen emails and there was evidence of doctoring. This does raise the question of what evidence does the PL have which was not available to UEFA, who found it and where did they find it? It is inconceivable that a perusal of our accounts has unearthed over 100 irregularities which had escaped notice (as in the 1906 case!). UEFA could not shake the belief that our accounts were fair and complete and CAS ruled that there was evidence to support any of the charges. I cannot see how the PL/cartel can do any better...