UEFA FFP investigation - CAS decision to be announced Monday, 13th July 9.30am BST

[nmc]

Hi,

Please don't ban me as this is my first post and I'm just interested to get some answers. I came on here this morning as obviously we've all seen the news and I wanted to gauge what the average City fans reaction is.

Now (here comes the part where I fear I'll be banned) it seems that looking at the club from the outside there's obvious "financial doping" going on. I can't see how City could have achieved this much success in such a short space of time without it.

So, I am just wondering where the thoughts that UEFA have an agenda against City are coming from? I understand the opinion that FFP caters to the established big teams and ensures that they remain that way, but aside from that, I can't see what other reason there is to be angry? Surely UEFA are investigating/bringing charges for a reason other than they just don't like City.

They wouldn't just be looking into the club for no reason either, right? There's no smoke without fire & all that?

Apologies for signing up just to ask a simple questions but I know no City fans personally and there's no chance of getting sense out of anyone on Twitter etc

Even breaking it down to the most simple terms, as I (the average, not massively invested football fan) see it, City agreed to play by certain rules and have essentially broken or attempted to break those rules. Is this correct?

Again, please don't ban me for this. I'm just a confused neutral with no idea what's going on!

Thanks

By ‘ financial doping’ - I can only assume you mean investment. So the school in East Manchester, the Leisure Centre, the new housing, the football academy - that’s financial doping in your world. Go put your head back up your arse mate, fuck off and do us all a favour. What was the pumping of all Littlewoods pools profits into Liverpool and Everton for 25 years - a charitable donation? By all means come back when your balls have dropped and you can string an articulate sentence together. Now do one you clown.

 

[Norbiton]

Hi,

Please don't ban me as this is my first post and I'm just interested to get some answers. I came on here this morning as obviously we've all seen the news and I wanted to gauge what the average City fans reaction is.

Now (here comes the part where I fear I'll be banned) it seems that looking at the club from the outside there's obvious "financial doping" going on. I can't see how City could have achieved this much success in such a short space of time without it.

So, I am just wondering where the thoughts that UEFA have an agenda against City are coming from? I understand the opinion that FFP caters to the established big teams and ensures that they remain that way, but aside from that, I can't see what other reason there is to be angry? Surely UEFA are investigating/bringing charges for a reason other than they just don't like City.

They wouldn't just be looking into the club for no reason either, right? There's no smoke without fire & all that?

Apologies for signing up just to ask a simple questions but I know no City fans personally and there's no chance of getting sense out of anyone on Twitter etc

Even breaking it down to the most simple terms, as I (the average, not massively invested football fan) see it, City agreed to play by certain rules and have essentially broken or attempted to break those rules. Is this correct?

Again, please don't ban me for this. I'm just a confused neutral with no idea what's going on!

Thanks

You seem to be implying that City must be spending more than appears in their accounts. Nobody, as far as I know, has suggested that. The allegation is that the owners subsidised the Etihad sponsorship (not that they supplemented it), which is both denied and probably not breaking any rules anyway.

 

[Proy]

Where are you from and who do you support?

If he/she gets the chance the answer will probably be fucking Barnet but we all know it’s one of the G14

 

[Gordyola]

The NYT reporters are being purposefully disingenuous.

If the misleading as per Football Leaks is through the audited financials of City or the entities sponsoring City, then by definition the audited financials are “irregular” and, as I wrote before, UEFA is basically accusing City or City sponsors of book-cooking by extension.

No company in ANY BUSINESS is going to stand for that if their financials are above board. They will fight such an accusation with everything they’ve got.

Also the auditors and accountants of the accounts of those businesses

 

[CC1]

Hi,

Please don't ban me as this is my first post and I'm just interested to get some answers. I came on here this morning as obviously we've all seen the news and I wanted to gauge what the average City fans reaction is.

Now (here comes the part where I fear I'll be banned) it seems that looking at the club from the outside there's obvious "financial doping" going on. I can't see how City could have achieved this much success in such a short space of time without it.

So, I am just wondering where the thoughts that UEFA have an agenda against City are coming from? I understand the opinion that FFP caters to the established big teams and ensures that they remain that way, but aside from that, I can't see what other reason there is to be angry? Surely UEFA are investigating/bringing charges for a reason other than they just don't like City.

They wouldn't just be looking into the club for no reason either, right? There's no smoke without fire & all that?

Apologies for signing up just to ask a simple questions but I know no City fans personally and there's no chance of getting sense out of anyone on Twitter etc

Even breaking it down to the most simple terms, as I (the average, not massively invested football fan) see it, City agreed to play by certain rules and have essentially broken or attempted to break those rules. Is this correct?

Again, please don't ban me for this. I'm just a confused neutral with no idea what's going on!

Thanks

Not sure why you’re asking when you think you have all the answers. Hahaha. You’re on the wind up. Think you deserve the ban - don’t you

 

[dickie davies]

Hi,

Please don't ban me as this is my first post and I'm just interested to get some answers. I came on here this morning as obviously we've all seen the news and I wanted to gauge what the average City fans reaction is.

Now (here comes the part where I fear I'll be banned) it seems that looking at the club from the outside there's obvious "financial doping" going on. I can't see how City could have achieved this much success in such a short space of time without it.

So, I am just wondering where the thoughts that UEFA have an agenda against City are coming from? I understand the opinion that FFP caters to the established big teams and ensures that they remain that way, but aside from that, I can't see what other reason there is to be angry? Surely UEFA are investigating/bringing charges for a reason other than they just don't like City.

They wouldn't just be looking into the club for no reason either, right? There's no smoke without fire & all that?

Apologies for signing up just to ask a simple questions but I know no City fans personally and there's no chance of getting sense out of anyone on Twitter etc

Even breaking it down to the most simple terms, as I (the average, not massively invested football fan) see it, City agreed to play by certain rules and have essentially broken or attempted to break those rules. Is this correct?

Again, please don't ban me for this. I'm just a confused neutral with no idea what's going on!

Thanks

Imagine fatty sells Newcastle to a very wealthy person. How would the new owner make his investment more valuable and also get it to challenge for top honours?
The owner would invest his money into playing staff and once the team is regularly competing for trophies it then starts to generate more turnover via TV money, prize money and additional sponsorship, thus becoming self sustaining
This is what's happened at City
Yes there were huge losses in the early years of our current ownership, but we are through that stage and are worth in the region of 2.5 billion as opposed to the 200 million we were bought for and are totally self sufficient

 

[TheRemainsOfTheDave]

Hi,

... looking at the club from the outside there's obvious "financial doping" going on....

Lol.

 

[City Man]

Hi,

Please don't ban me as this is my first post and I'm just interested to get some answers. I came on here this morning as obviously we've all seen the news and I wanted to gauge what the average City fans reaction is.

Now (here comes the part where I fear I'll be banned) it seems that looking at the club from the outside there's obvious "financial doping" going on. I can't see how City could have achieved this much success in such a short space of time without it.

So, I am just wondering where the thoughts that UEFA have an agenda against City are coming from? I understand the opinion that FFP caters to the established big teams and ensures that they remain that way, but aside from that, I can't see what other reason there is to be angry? Surely UEFA are investigating/bringing charges for a reason other than they just don't like City.

They wouldn't just be looking into the club for no reason either, right? There's no smoke without fire & all that?

Apologies for signing up just to ask a simple questions but I know no City fans personally and there's no chance of getting sense out of anyone on Twitter etc

Even breaking it down to the most simple terms, as I (the average, not massively invested football fan) see it, City agreed to play by certain rules and have essentially broken or attempted to break those rules. Is this correct?

Again, please don't ban me for this. I'm just a confused neutral with no idea what's going on!

Thanks

Financial doping is when people put money into a football club you don't support. When people put money into a football club you do support, then it's called investment.

 

[GortonBlue62]

Hi,

Please don't ban me as this is my first post and I'm just interested to get some answers. I came on here this morning as obviously we've all seen the news and I wanted to gauge what the average City fans reaction is.

Now (here comes the part where I fear I'll be banned) it seems that looking at the club from the outside there's obvious "financial doping" going on. I can't see how City could have achieved this much success in such a short space of time without it.

So, I am just wondering where the thoughts that UEFA have an agenda against City are coming from? I understand the opinion that FFP caters to the established big teams and ensures that they remain that way, but aside from that, I can't see what other reason there is to be angry? Surely UEFA are investigating/bringing charges for a reason other than they just don't like City.

They wouldn't just be looking into the club for no reason either, right? There's no smoke without fire & all that?

Apologies for signing up just to ask a simple questions but I know no City fans personally and there's no chance of getting sense out of anyone on Twitter etc

Even breaking it down to the most simple terms, as I (the average, not massively invested football fan) see it, City agreed to play by certain rules and have essentially broken or attempted to break those rules. Is this correct?

Again, please don't ban me for this. I'm just a confused neutral with no idea what's going on!

Thanks

Basically, as someone else has already pointed out on this thread, Barcelona et al are allowed to spend money they don't have and City are not allowed to spend money we do have.

Have a look at the revenue listings for 2019 football clubs here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deloitte_Football_Money_League

... and understand that City, who are debt free (unlike many entrants on the list), are only able to spend money they generate; they don't have a tap with oil money being pumped in.

You will find many conspiracy theorists on this site, I'm not one of them, but any objective analysis would have to conclude that there is no case to answer.

 

[DAV771]

Basically, as someone else has already pointed out on this thread, Barcelona et al are allowed to spend money they don't have and City are not allowed to spend money we do have.

Have a look at the revenue listings for 2019 football clubs here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deloitte_Football_Money_League

... and understand that City, who are debt free (unlike many entrants on the list), are only able to spend money they generate; they don't have a tap with oil money being pumped in.

You will find many conspiracy theorists on this site, I'm not one of them, but any objective analysis would have to conclude that there is no case to answer.

Thanks to yourself and a few other posters for genuine, informative responses. That's all I was looking for. Apologies to the rest of you. I'll be leaving you alone now.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Financial doping is when people put money into a football club you don't support. When people put money into a football club you do support, then it's called investment.

That should be the Oxford English Dictionary definition

 

[Manc Born & Bred]

What I mean by "financial doping" is that, from looking from the outside it would seem that the club has been spending disproportionately relative to it's earnings over the last 10 years or so. As I said I'm not particularly clued up on this and was just looking for some answers from sensible people who are interested in actually discussing the topic rather than throwing out childish insults. I should have known better.

Evidence please? You might want to look at Leicester's spending to get out of the championship or QPR's to stay in it...

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

What I mean by "financial doping" is that, from looking from the outside it would seem that the club has been spending disproportionately relative to it's earnings over the last 10 years or so. As I said I'm not particularly clued up on this and was just looking for some answers from sensible people who are interested in actually discussing the topic rather than throwing out childish insults. I should have known better.

Well, you could start by looking at City's financials, which are freely available on the club website, and determine whether the club has turned a profit (or been cash flow positive, which is far more important IMO) in the last few years, which it has. Or one could look at the CITIC investment which values the club at far more than the Sheikh paid originally, and ask why that is.

Among the many frustrating aspects of FFP and the weak understanding most laypeople have of finance and accounting is the seeming lack of realization that effectively every business on the planet for millennia begins by losing money as the expenses to get the business going outstrip the revenue. That should be obvious, but apparently, it's "financial doping."

 

[M12Blue]

Hey,

I'm from Newport & support the county. I also follow Leeds as my old man is a fan. Not a particularly lucky couple of clubs to follow unfortunately.

I’d have you banned just for being a Leeds fan. You’re just trying to be the ugly friend to your mates bird who’s just been dumped by him and you think being nice will get you laid

 

[Proy]

Basically, as someone else has already pointed out on this thread, Barcelona et al are allowed to spend money they don't have and City are not allowed to spend money we do have.

Have a look at the revenue listings for 2019 football clubs here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deloitte_Football_Money_League

... and understand that City, who are debt free (unlike many entrants on the list), are only able to spend money they generate; they don't have a tap with oil money being pumped in.

You will find many conspiracy theorists on this site, I'm not one of them, but any objective analysis would have to conclude that there is no case to answer.

You may not be a conspiracist but the strength of the club statement should be giving you a different outlook by now.

FFP was designed to stop Manchester City. That is now as clear as day and that the club are going for the kill here would suggest they are in agreement.

FFP itself is flawed and whilst it’s sitting in the court UEFA will take any chance they have to enforce it, and rearrange the landscape of it, to get our football club before it’s fucking binned off for good.

 

[Manc Born & Bred]

If I win £150m on the lottery and decide to invest in Cheadle Town why should anyone be able to tell me what I can and can't spen on something I own, it's a ridiculous idea. Oh sorry Mr Tesco you can't invest your own money in your stores and make them better so you can compete with other stores as that isn't fair. FFP is a stupid thing designed to protect the cartel end of. What it should be designed to do is to stop the likes of Bolton, Pompey etc going into admin and worse still clubs running up a debt of over £400m and carrying on spending willy nilly

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Also the auditors and accountants of the accounts of those businesses

Exactly.

 

[Project1]

People like yourselves are the reason I felt the need to apologise before I'd even said anything. No need for it. Fucks sake.

What I mean by "financial doping" is that, from looking from the outside it would seem that the club has been spending disproportionately relative to it's earnings over the last 10 years or so. As I said I'm not particularly clued up on this and was just looking for some answers from sensible people who are interested in actually discussing the topic rather than throwing out childish insults. I should have known better.

It is an interesting point you raise. The area that is of interest is the statement 'looking from the outside'. I can understand how looking from the outside it does indeed look damming. I remember watching the TV years ago watching fans running into a stadium and the outcome was shocking and scarred football forever. From the outside looking in they clearly didn't have tickets but although no evidence was provided to prove this and the coverage seemed to stack heavily against they were thankfully vindicated of this.
So always remember looking in from the outside usually is not the best angle.

 

[Scareye]

I’d have you banned just for being a Leeds fan. You’re just trying to be the ugly friend to your mates bird who’s just been dumped by him and you think being nice will get you laid

We have all tried that...haven't we?

 

[TheRemainsOfTheDave]

What I mean by "financial doping" is that, from looking from the outside it would seem that the club has been spending disproportionately relative to it's earnings over the last 10 years or so. As I said I'm not particularly clued up on this and was just looking for some answers from sensible people who are interested in actually discussing the topic rather than throwing out childish insults. I should have known better.

If the club have been spending disproportionately to its earnings, then you'd be seeing losses or falls in profit over the last few years and actually you can see from the published accounts that isn't the case. Hence why you are getting abused.