PL charge City for alleged breaches of financial rules

[John Wayne]

If you see past the fog of jealous Man united/Liverpool teenagers and thick inadequates on the internet this is the prevailing view of City around the country.

Yes, it is. Fans of the Sheffield clubs, Sunderland, Newcastle, West Ham, Blackburn and a few others have all been very complimentary about the club and us fans. It is important to me that, as time goes on, we continue to be humble, not be entitled, and not be hostile to those who cause us no harm.

 

[Asa's left peg]

Can't speak for all Newcastle fans, but the ones I know always had a soft spot for Man City probably because of our tete a tetes with Man Utd in the 90s. When you won the lottery we were happy for you, you'd shake up the established elite and for a team with history and a good fanbase to get back among the big boys was a blessed relief after Chelsea's rise.

Not going to lie, there was a little jealousy when we were at our nadir under Ashley and you were hoovering up the best managers, players, and trophies galore. Now that we've got our new owners there's a sense of being in the same boat; the established teams trying their damndest to shut the door on us, the conversations about sportswashing, people seeing corruption and cheating where in reality it's just good football people making good football decisions. Just need to start getting those trophies.

Always have a good laugh with you lot, more so than fans of the other 'big clubs'. There isn't the entitlement, the arrogance. There might be amongst some of your newer fans, but the blokes I've chatted to are decent. Any time I've spoken to Man City fans they remember where they were before the takeover, watching your team lose to Stockport County and shit like that. It helps that your manager is likeable, that you play entertaining football and your players aren't... (I dunno what the profanity filter is like on here so insert your favourite pejorative here).

I like to think that most city fans are not arsed about being a 'big' club' and are maybe a tad embarrassed when it is said - just feels uncomfortable. We and probably you, don't need the label.

I have read in the recent past, Geordies not being aware of the dogs abuse we have had for over ten years and that it's a new thing just to Newcastle. On one hand this pleases me, as some are maybe not even reading or digesting the hundreds of articles written about our cheating and luck.

 

[halfcenturyup]

I am well aware of what they can and cannot find us guilt of. The question was not will we be found guilty it was if we are will heads role. I was only ever referring to the most serious allegations. I agree they won’t let it rest there and I would image heads wouldn’t role till the process is complete but they might and if those processes went the same way I would image they would defiantly role if we are stitched at IP we will be stitched up at the appeal tribunal. Which would leave only option as the courts which would take a lot longer with outside pressure for heads to role being huge. Appeals to elsewhere are apparently very hard so that gives us another problem and further increases chances of heads rolling.

Currently I think only Nick Harris has carried a headline suggesting fraud even though that’s the logic of the charges although the PL haven’t said so. If the results come in against us on the most serious charges that will give the media the cover to imply or use the word fraud without facing legal challenge. Which will make calls for the board to go to be huge.

Someone will have to go surely to stop the sheik getting slandered. Which is especially important given who he is

Personally I am not interested in discussing "what-if"s. "What if" the IP finds in favour of the PL on the serious allegations is way too complicated an issue and has too many unknown variables, and is irrelevant in my view anyway, for any informed discussion on here.

But you do you.

 

[inbetween]

I am well aware of what they can and cannot find us guilt of. The question was not will we be found guilty it was if we are will heads role. I was only ever referring to the most serious allegations. I agree they won’t let it rest there and I would image heads wouldn’t role till the process is complete but they might and if those processes went the same way I would image they would defiantly role if we are stitched at IP we will be stitched up at the appeal tribunal. Which would leave only option as the courts which would take a lot longer with outside pressure for heads to role being huge. Appeals to elsewhere are apparently very hard so that gives us another problem and further increases chances of heads rolling.

Currently I think only Nick Harris has carried a headline suggesting fraud even though that’s the logic of the charges although the PL haven’t said so. If the results come in against us on the most serious charges that will give the media the cover to imply or use the word fraud without facing legal challenge. Which will make calls for the board to go to be huge.

Someone will have to go surely to stop the sheik getting slandered. Which is especially important given who he is

I think many in the media have to be careful about the wording they use on these charges. The charges are based upon Premier League rules and they have nothing to do with criminal charges. This isn't another Italian calciopoli where actual criminal behaviour such as fraud or match fixing has taken place.

Some outlets have even mentioned a trial date despite the fact that city will not be tried in a criminal court and as a result there will not be a trial. For the media or anyone else to mention the club in the light of criminal behaviour is defamatory and libellous.

The 'charges' will it seems be heard by an independent commission which will come to some decision based upon whatever experience it has. However, city will attack this because who appoints this commission and if the rules aren't based upon legal standing then what are they based upon and how are they applied? If this is all fit for purpose then why have they waited until now to serve them given some go back to 2009?

The whole thing is ripe to fall apart. It doesn't stand a chance because it is based upon limited judgement and random decisions to apply rules, some of which don't even apply due to the length of time since they supposedly occurred. It won't get far given that it hasn't been dealt with well and city has virtually unlimited resources to attack all of this in a real court.

 

[Zabbasbeard]

Yes, it is. Fans of the Sheffield clubs, Sunderland, Newcastle, West Ham, Blackburn and a few others have all been very complimentary about the club and us fans. It is important to me that, as time goes on, we continue to be humble, not be entitled, and not be hostile to those who cause us no harm.

That's my experience too. Never had any crap from both Sheffields (I work there), Newcastle, Sunderland, Derby, Forest, Hammers and any of the traditional Lancs clubs like Blackburn, Bolton. Anyone who can think for themselves basically.

 

[bluemonkey71]

Someone will have to go surely to stop the sheik getting slandered. Which is especially important given who he is

What about Khaldoon's reputation? Not exactly an upstart.....

As Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Mubadala, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak has led the company’s significant evolution for two decades. Through organic growth, acquisitions, and mergers, Mubadala has become a $276 billion business with assets in more than 50 countries across six international offices. With a global and entrepreneurial mindset, Mubadala is a responsible sovereign investor that generates sustainable financial returns for its shareholder, the Government of Abu Dhabi.

In addition to his commercial responsibilities, Khaldoon holds a number of UAE Government and Abu Dhabi Government responsibilities, including: Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council since 2006; Founding Member of Abu Dhabi’s Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs; Presidential Special Envoy to China since 2018; and Founding Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, which provides strategic policy advice to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

Khaldoon also serves on the Boards of several significant businesses, including the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and serves as the Chairman of the Boards of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Emirates Global Aluminium and City Football Group.
Additionally, Khaldoon Co-Chairs the Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum and the UAE-France Strategic Dialogue.

He is also a member of the New York University Board of Trustees.

 

[The perfect fumble]

I am well aware of what they can and cannot find us guilt of. The question was not will we be found guilty it was if we are will heads role. I was only ever referring to the most serious allegations. I agree they won’t let it rest there and I would image heads wouldn’t role till the process is complete but they might and if those processes went the same way I would image they would defiantly role if we are stitched at IP we will be stitched up at the appeal tribunal. Which would leave only option as the courts which would take a lot longer with outside pressure for heads to role being huge. Appeals to elsewhere are apparently very hard so that gives us another problem and further increases chances of heads rolling.

Currently I think only Nick Harris has carried a headline suggesting fraud even though that’s the logic of the charges although the PL haven’t said so. If the results come in against us on the most serious charges that will give the media the cover to imply or use the word fraud without facing legal challenge. Which will make calls for the board to go to be huge.

Someone will have to go surely to stop the sheik getting slandered. Which is especially important given who he is

Heads aren't going to roll whatever the outcome, to use a military analogy, the privates aren't "on trial" and neither are the junior officers or the battalion commanders, it's the commander in chief.

This isn't about some minor functionary dipping into the till, or some rogue middle manager, this is about deliberate, systematic fraud driven from the top.

The Sheikh isn't throwing Khaldoon under the bus for this and Khaldoon isn't going to throw Soriano under it either.

Whatever happens they'll be no cull, because the club not only believes it's done nothing wrong, most importantly it knows it's done nothing wrong, and that won't change whatever the verdict.

 

[Chappie]

Can't speak for all Newcastle fans, but the ones I know always had a soft spot for Man City probably because of our tete a tetes with Man Utd in the 90s. When you won the lottery we were happy for you, you'd shake up the established elite and for a team with history and a good fanbase to get back among the big boys was a blessed relief after Chelsea's rise.

Not going to lie, there was a little jealousy when we were at our nadir under Ashley and you were hoovering up the best managers, players, and trophies galore. Now that we've got our new owners there's a sense of being in the same boat; the established teams trying their damndest to shut the door on us, the conversations about sportswashing, people seeing corruption and cheating where in reality it's just good football people making good football decisions. Just need to start getting those trophies.

Always have a good laugh with you lot, more so than fans of the other 'big clubs'. There isn't the entitlement, the arrogance. There might be amongst some of your newer fans, but the blokes I've chatted to are decent. Any time I've spoken to Man City fans they remember where they were before the takeover, watching your team lose to Stockport County and shit like that. It helps that your manager is likeable, that you play entertaining football and your players aren't... (I dunno what the profanity filter is like on here so insert your favourite pejorative here).

Did you/still do, have an affliation with a female City supporter ?

 

[City Mike 1969]

I like to think that most city fans are not arsed about being a 'big' club' and are maybe a tad embarrassed when it is said - just feels uncomfortable. We and probably you, don't need the label.

anyone who isn't a spineless, compensating cretin doesn't need to attach that label to the club that they support.

 

[The Fish]

What were your views on FFP prior to your take over?
I ask because many fans outside of the clubs you mentioned are still for it to this day and I can't get my head around it. Without FFP they could always dream that one day a wealthy owner could buy them and invest in the club to compete with the worlds best. They fail to see that FFP's only objective was to keep the elite, elite and instead believe the narrative that an owner investing his own money in his own business is cheating! It's the literal definition of turkeys voting for Christmas. In any other industry in the world what our owner has done would be lauded, it's staggering to me that fans of other clubs can't see that.
So what were yours (and your friends) views of us prior your take over because I'm genuinely interested?

I understood the goal they were aiming for; ensure the community entities like a football club were protected from reckless ownership. It makes sense to have rules to prevent an owner gambling the club's future on expensive transfers. A good comparison is us and Leeds in the 2000s. They spent their Champions League money on players, we did up our stadium. They didn't recruit well, league performance suffered and they tumbled down the leagues, ruining themselves financially for years.

Look at what's happened at Bury, Portsmouth, Brighton, Leicester. They were ran by cowboys and it was the fans, the non-football staff, that paid the biggest penalty. Managers and players move on, but people were losing their jobs because some dickhead owner couldn't balance the books properly. Everton have broken the rules and they should be punished, and if it wasn't for petty partisan rivalry I'd think 10pts is harsh because at the end of the day it's not the owners who'll suffer despite it being wholly their fault. But... y'know Scouse Mackems and all that.

I didn't think Man City were/are doing anything that Man Utd hadn't been doing for decades prior. Yeah, it is a bit like cheating on Football Manager, but given the nature of the headstart Man Utd and Liverpool have, it would take something like that to truly compete with them. They were happy enough to run a club riddled with debt for as long as they could and the minute someone comes along with the financial muscle to compete they throw their toys out of the pram?

There has to be a way to protect community entities, without ringfencing the established elite. I've heard people talk about a salary cap, but that's unworkable. The minute the PL brought that in, players would jump ship to La Liga or where ever else is paying the big bucks. People have talked about ensuring a majority of players must come from a predetermined geographical area, but that's unworkable for London clubs, or clubs without a sufficiently large population base. Take Newcastle for example, there was some kind of youth recruitment rule based on where a kid grew up, 50% of our catchment area was the North Sea.

Dunno what the answer is, but FFP isn't it. It perpetuates the strength of the top clubs and restricts the others.