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

[BillyShears]

Yeah, I'm pretty sceptical about this "smoking gun" stuff too. How come you don't have any confidence in Soriano though?

I just don't think this thing should've gotten this far. For me it speaks to it being handled badly on all sides. Of course UEFA were going to be put under pressure post Football Leaks to do something.

But I get the impression that City's intransigence in terms of "we did nothing wrong" - when clearly those emails show at the very least that our board of directors were looking for ways around certain FFP issues, has made this situation worse.

For that, the buck stops with Soriano. He should've seen this coming and found a road out of it without it ending up at CAS with us having to wait and see if we can play in the CL next season when we're talking about 'breaches' from 2010/11.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

I read the AC rules. They can call for additional evidence over and above what the IC submits. Did they do this in our case? Did extra evidence explain the increase in the sanction? We may never know.
Incidently, the AC habit of not releasing their reasoning for their decision while an appeal is pending is a little odd. Justice seen to be done?

I think that fell partly under the time limit thing. I assume that someone will have asked that what was looked at and what wasn't.

I don't know about the AC reasoning, but I can see why they might not be able to do if an appeal is pending.

 

[PannickAtTheDisco]

I just don't think this thing should've gotten this far. For me it speaks to it being handled badly on all sides. Of course UEFA were going to be put under pressure post Football Leaks to do something.

But I get the impression that City's intransigence in terms of "we did nothing wrong" - when clearly those emails show at the very least that our board of directors were looking for ways around certain FFP issues, has made this situation worse.

For that, the buck stops with Soriano. He should've seen this coming and found a road out of it without it ending up at CAS with us having to wait and see if we can play in the CL next season when we're talking about 'breaches' from 2010/11.

That's one way of looking at it.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

So Ceferin could really do with losing at CAS to enable a root and branch culling of all the G14 elements at UEFA? Up to and including FFP as this will hold back many clubs (including G14) in the present climate.

I can see that argument running - I think it's a sect within UEFA that are a pressure group. That may stem from the old regime pre-Ceferin and possibly pre-Infantino, and it's a boil to be balanced.

 

[BillyShears]

That's one way of looking at it.

I think there's a lot of emotion attached to this subject for us as supporters - but I hope that the people who run the club learn from this experience. City have done A LOT right since the owners came in, and Soriano and his team have done A LOT right since they came in. But I'm not sure that we've covered ourselves in glory in this instance. It's one thing to feel as though you are morally right in an argument, but when you're dealing with the level of bureaucracy and politicking involved at UEFA, I think you have to be a bit savvier than we've been.

 

[domalino]

I think there's a lot of emotion attached to this subject for us as supporters - but I hope that the people who run the club learn from this experience. City have done A LOT right since the owners came in, and Soriano and his team have done A LOT right since they came in. But I'm not sure that we've covered ourselves in glory in this instance. It's one thing to feel as though you are morally right in an argument, but when you're dealing with the level of bureaucracy and politicking involved at UEFA, I think you have to be a bit savvier than we've been.

Lets hope they've learned something about cyber security at least.

 

[BillyShears]

Lets hope they've learned something about cyber security at least.

For sure. Between this and the Liverpool hacked our scouting system story it's hard not be a little pissed at Soriano and co. Especially when you consider we took a million quid in hush money from the scousers after the fact to protect their reputation.

 

[Ric]

I just don't think this thing should've gotten this far. For me it speaks to it being handled badly on all sides. Of course UEFA were going to be put under pressure post Football Leaks to do something.

But I get the impression that City's intransigence in terms of "we did nothing wrong" - when clearly those emails show at the very least that our board of directors were looking for ways around certain FFP issues, has made this situation worse.

For that, the buck stops with Soriano. He should've seen this coming and found a road out of it without it ending up at CAS with us having to wait and see if we can play in the CL next season when we're talking about 'breaches' from 2010/11.

Will be interesting to see if he carries the can if the CAS appeal is unsuccessful, or whether Mansour and Khaldoon will keep faith in him regardless.

 

[KS55]

OK, I'll try it this way.
If the CAS find we have a case to answer and uphold the ban, effectively that investigation by senior judges finds that the books were cooked and implies breaches of the Companies Act. However they are not empowered to take action under that Act so will do nothing other than submit their findings to the two parties. City and UEFA. They may issue some brief of an overview of the proceedings with the outcome in their reports.

It has already been stated that the Premier League have been investigating the same allegations made by Dr Spiegel and codified by UEFAs charges into the submission of incorrect accounts. So the first question is, if UEFA uphold the ban and fine in any combination do you think the Premier League will not investigate further?

Do not kid yourself if we get found to have done what is alleged do you believe we will get an easy ride from the British press and the rest of the hateful eight etc? There will be a huge demand for exemplary action. I fully expect a demand for points taken away and redistribution of League Titles etc to be openly banded about as punishment or perhaps you think they'll take it easy on us? I suspect not.

It naturally follows if that happens that such a huge case in the UK indicating we have breached the Companies Act will alert both the Police and CPS. There may well be such a referral to them from the Premier League or from hundreds of "well intentioned" private citizens or other aggrieved football clubs or members of the press due to their outrage at such blatant disregard for the law. Do you not naturally see where it goes? If the general public are seemingly outraged the Police will feel compelled to act under the "public interest" elements of the law.

I make these comments not out of any wish for this to pass but over 25 years experience of legal process and because some blues are quite glib about "Accepting a 1 year ban" and that acceptance clearly indicates a tacit submission of guilt.

Does anyone think the powers that be will be allowed to sweep this under the carpet should the CAS outcome not be favourable? Do you not think Steven Gerrard (who's a keen observer of the outcome) et al will sit back and do nothing along with Liverpool FC who are likely to whip up an absolute storm in their indignation?

Perhaps they'll just let us off!

So when you say there's "No chance" this will lead to criminal charges at home perhaps I'll politely disagree.

Of course it's all speculation at this stage and I hope we have sufficient evidence to exonerate the club completely and none of this will mean a thing.

Pelion on Ossa
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/pile+Pelion+on+Ossa

 

[BillyShears]

Will be interesting to see if he carries the can if the CAS appeal is unsuccessful, or whether Mansour and Khaldoon will keep faith in him regardless.

2 year ban = End of Catalan era at MCFC