PL charge City for alleged breaches of financial rules

[JRockBlues]

The narrative is set each and every time that a report on our struggles with UEFA/PL comes out. UEFA found us guilty but we wouldn't just lie down and take our punishment like we should. There is never any mention of why CAS threw out the charges (other than to say some were time-barred indicating we got off an a technicality) or that the hacked e-mails that most of UEFA's case were based on had included one that was doctored and others taken out of context. They never mention that UEFA were admonished by CAS for even letting it get as far as it did before overturning the ban. No mention of why the non-cooperation fine was levied with the chambers at UEFA leaking everything to their mates in the press. No mention of the "body of irrefutable evidence" that we supplied just being ignored amid reports of it not even being read by Leterme and his cronies.

Oh no, so far as the general fan in the street is concerned we've been painted as the big bad as that is all they see in the media that they consume. Not one so called independent or unbiased journalists will ever look at things from our point of view. We're winning everything therefore we must be guilty.

Hopefully the outcome will be no different this time around and as long as this investigative panel is truly impartial then that's how it should be. Not that it will matter to the masses who will be told that we bought better lawyers with our vast resources that the other side couldn't compete with.

 

[Taylor’s Nod Down]

The BBC pulled this after 20mins, I’m guessing someone had a word in their ear.

It’s still there now, just watched it before I saw this thread

It’s so cynical. As Pep has said, who will go back and correct the feelings and accusations when, like CAS, we come out on the right side of decisions?

That’s one thing but to do this, with absolutely nothing new and to use terms like ‘leaked’ rather than ‘hacked’ emails, the tone, the suspicion, the questioning, is appalling journalism. Everyone knows about the investigation but there’s every chance we’ll see a similar outcome to CAS. They know that - so this is just a deliberate attempt to discredit and spoil any sense of achievement. I also understand every word Ros Atkins says, so I wish he wouldn’t use inflections like he’s speaking to a 3 year old for me to understand his point.

 

[SilverFox2]

The thing that's disingenuous about all this is that (a) they really don't know exactly what the charges are and (b) the little we do know about them appears to have no bearing on our winning these titles.

We do know one is about Mancini's Al Jazira contract. That ended in 2012, which was the first year of FFP, which we know we failed and ended up agreeing a settlement with UEFA. This has no bearing on our current success whatsoever.

We also know that the same charge relates to payment of player image rights via Fordham. Reuters reported that UEFA discussed that arrangement with us in 2015, and if that's correct we know that no disciplinary action was taken over this. My guess is that these payments might not have been reported to UEFA from 2013-2015 but I'd surmise we did include them after that, and it seems we ended the arrangement completely in 2018, If that's right, then I'd say UEFA took no action as they had no material impact on our FFP position.

And if it didn't impact our FFP position then it's inconceivable it would be any different as far as the PL's own rules are concerned. Therefore any insinuation that these allegations had any bearing on our success over the last few years, and that we wouldn't have been as successful had we not done what we're alleged to have done, is completely and utterly wide of the mark.

Many thanks for that clarification Colin.
I assume the media will read your post (as per normal) but will prefer to voice their biased version of said charges.

 

[The Clansman]

It’s still there now, just watched it before I saw this thread

It’s so cynical. As Pep has said, who will go back and correct the feelings and accusations when, like CAS, we come out on the right side of decisions?

That’s one thing but to do this, with absolutely nothing new and to use terms like ‘leaked’ rather than ‘hacked’ emails, the tone, the suspicion, the questioning, is appalling journalism. Everyone knows about the investigation but there’s every chance we’ll see a similar outcome to CAS. They know that - so this is just a deliberate attempt to discredit and spoil any sense of achievement. I also understand every word Ros Atkins says, so I wish he wouldn’t use inflections like he’s speaking to a 3 year old for me to understand his point.

Not bothering to listen to it, but the BBC have managed to put a link to it in every single City article today, just in case someone misses it. Wankers.

 

[wolviedinho]

Apart from the negative press around FFP, it could actually be argued that it accelerated City’s growth and sustainability allowing us to come away from relying on Sheikh Mansour’s wealth. The club had to play within the new construct, so we decided not only would we grow exponentially off the field by building a world class academy and expanding the City Group, we also decided we needed pep and his philosophy to grow on the pitch. We developed a slick operation and the recruitment process got better and better each season.

Thanks FFP. Only could the daft twats at Uefa/cartel could come up with a system that actually benefited the club and accelerated our self sustainability model.

They can keep the negative soundbites while I will look at the clubs achievements with unbridled joy. England should be proud that MCFC represents the country with distinction.

What a club!

 

[cityontheup]

Are we expecting the club to try and get this issue done and dusted once and for all before the start of next season?

 

[Shaggy]

I have started my personal campaign against the gang of red Shirters on every platform.
Not defending City but going on the attack by exposing them and their corrupt behaviour.
They compete with loaded dice and call it fair.
So far, by reading the replies, it seems fans from other clubs are getting the message.

Got any links Pellers

 

[dubblue]

Are we expecting the club to try and get this issue done and dusted once and for all before the start of next season?

I don’t see any chance of that happening. It would be great though as listening to rival fans is beyond tedious. Most don’t even know what the charges are.

 

[give it to gordon]

Regardless of the number of charges, if you're found guilty of just 1 then you're guilty of that particular charge only. It could be that I've missed your point entirely though.

Personally I believe every club will be guilty of at least one. Just the pl arent investigating them for some reason

It's a hunt

 

[SkyBlueFlux]

Shame. I thought Ros did thorough work.

The first and last line on this by any media outlet worth its salt should be that none of the charges relating to financial manipulation have ever been proven by an independent body. He mentions that in passing almost as if it's an inconvenience getting in the way of a good story. Until that happens this is all just speculation and sentences thrown down by explicitly biased parties.

If there's one thing this saga has shown me it's that people will ardently claim they believe in some ideological principle but then the moment that discarding that principle is in their best interest they will do so unblinking.

How many people do you think would say they believe in the presumption of innocence until proven guilty?

Well they don't. This has demonstrated that for me. People only presume innocence when it suits them. Anybody making the argument that we have cheated are quite explicitly and by definition presuming guilt. And they all seem to be fairly comfortable with that.