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

[BluessinceHydeRoad]

I believe G14 clubs have cooperated (not conspired!) in attempts to derail City and, of course, G14 have largely captured Uefa. It is a small step logically to suspect that corridor conversations have influenced Uefa's actions. For example, Yves Leterme probably visited Bayern on a regular basis as a member of their 'Sustainability Board' and Bayern have kept up a campaign suggesting that City have caused transfer fee inflation. Surely those parties talked about these matters?
But this cooperation is almost impossible to prove. Unless, unless...... Khaldoon said: "When people say things, we know". Khaldoon has access to a very smart intelligence service. Do we know something?

Leterme's conduct surrounding the PSG sponsorship case and then the TV rights deal shrieks of corruption and we know clubs well represented at UEFA have been screaming for "something to be done" about City for a wide variety on non offences, so a case aginst us on a wave of resentment, rather than evidence, is not out of the question.

 

[red 2 hats]

I've gone worst case, 2 year ban upheld.

Genuinely think we are up against a mafia here that will not stop until they have completely fucked us over.

That was how I voted and for the very same reason, uefa seem to be one step ahead all the time, they've found the cheat mode in their own rules.

 

[BluessinceHydeRoad]

CAS wouldn't prove anything on the accounts but I agree, having a smell around sets of UK accounts is a serious serious issue for directors, owners and auditors. Multiple regulators could be involved and, critically, fraudulent accounts are a matter of CRIMINAL law and could end in jail for executives. So yes I think its very doubtful those people would risk adverse findings of any sort. Likewise the chances that Silverlake did not do due diligence on them is very slim (incidentally a very interesting article just posted on Silverlake on FT - they are serious players https://www.ft.com/content/cb4f8b5a-07c9-4880-a220-f4f5c56d4735). In short I agree with your assessment.

This was a point which occurred to me just after posting - if UEFA's evidence led to suspicions that the club had misled the auditors and presented fraudulent accounts wouldn't this be far too serious to be handled by the IC and AC and then CAS? Wouldn't this call for prosecutions in the riminal courts for fraud etc? Wouldn't UEFA be a little arrogant to think they could deal with it even in the first instance?

 

[lonestay]

I just hope that we have a big fuck off weapon of mass destruction that if Pannick thinks needs launching then he can. I would love us to be completely exonerated in this and be able to seriously hurt some big clubs with Provable facts and information.

 

[PannickAtTheDisco]

This was a point which occurred to me just after posting - if UEFA's evidence led to suspicions that the club had misled the auditors and presented fraudulent accounts wouldn't this be far too serious to be handled by the IC and AC and then CAS? Wouldn't this call for prosecutions in the riminal courts for fraud etc? Wouldn't UEFA be a little arrogant to think they could deal with it even in the first instance?

If they somehow had that, we wouldn't be going to CAS

 

[BluessinceHydeRoad]

If they somehow had that, we wouldn't be going to CAS

Yes, that is my point!

 

[Newman Noggs]

CAS wouldn't prove anything on the accounts but I agree, having a smell around sets of UK accounts is a serious serious issue for directors, owners and auditors. Multiple regulators could be involved and, critically, fraudulent accounts are a matter of CRIMINAL law and could end in jail for executives. .

In my opinion, whilst this is technically true, for such an offence(s) to be prosecuted there would have to be a public interest in pursuing a prosecution. That would require some "harm" e.g creditors, investors or disadvantaged shareholders . I'm not seeing that here even in the worst case scenario.

 

[JRockBlues]

Those who have voted "Other"
What have you in mind?

Purely because I don't think we'll be totally exhonerated. Think CAS will still rule in our favour and get the ban quashed but more likely on a technicality or procedural basis than a full not guilty verdict. To get that I think we'll have to take it further and I doubt we will especially if UEFA then agree to restructure the IC & AC.

 

[Paladin]

This was a point which occurred to me just after posting - if UEFA's evidence led to suspicions that the club had misled the auditors and presented fraudulent accounts wouldn't this be far too serious to be handled by the IC and AC and then CAS? Wouldn't this call for prosecutions in the riminal courts for fraud etc? Wouldn't UEFA be a little arrogant to think they could deal with it even in the first instance?

Not if there's money involved, and it's going their way. If there is any potential of fines being paid, UEFA are first in the queue. They're not going to pass up the opportunity to take the first slice of the winnings here.

 

[BobbyBoy]

Totally get that but a crushing defeat for UEFA would see the members of the AC under huge pressure... would they survive?

From what I've read they get appointed on 4 year terms, this one ends in October. Whether they want another term is another matter but if City win I could see them tending the garden for a couple of months.