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

[christened at st marks]

When we lodge our appeal, I assume we are going to launch a counter claim?

I mean the damage to our club has been huge and likewise we should fire back our own claim, something huge like £100m, make UEFA think twice about playing judge jury and executioner.

I'd stick a 0 to that figure

 

[Rolee]

So we still don't know for certain exactly what UEFA have found us guilty of.

They say it's overstating sponsorship between 2012 and 2016, don't reveal which sponsorship or by how much.

Couple of things jump out at me, this time period was during UEFA monitoring us in light of the first breach, why did they not spot it then?

And why would we bother where the Etihad deal is concerned when Executive council could provide the money rather than ADUG?

 

[TheRemainsOfTheDave]

When we lodge our appeal, I assume we are going to launch a counter claim?

I mean the damage to our club has been huge and likewise we should fire back our own claim, something huge like £100m, make UEFA think twice about playing judge jury and executioner.

I think that will follow after the appeal decision as it could sway the CAS panel if launched beforehand. Demonstrating we have a 'beef' with UEFA could weaken our position. Keep it simple, knowing we have the legal route to explore.

 

[Cobwebcat]

Thanks for all that PB.

I can understand that UEFA might be concerned if ADUG/Sheikh Mansour were directly pumping funds into Abu Dhabi companies that were then be funneled straight to City. But if those investments were coming from other sources (e.g., Sheikh Khalifa), then surely that has nothing to do with UEFA?

The thing is what are we saying? Footy clubs can’t do business with sponsors? If we buy something from a sponsor and they give us sponsorship money who is to say that the money they gave us is the same money we gave them?

It’s nonsense.

 

[Cobwebcat]

I agree that comes later. BUT if hopefully this is over turned....IT HAS TO COME . The Reputation has been tarnished and how.

I know what you are saying but if we win at CAS I think we will stop. If we lose you will get your wish.

 

[nixmith2]

Right - here is my opinion.

Firstly - if Man City have messed up (and deceived us fans by lying about it) we should just accept the 2 year ban and move on.

However, if that is not the case we should be actively engaging the support of the other big English (and Scottish clubs) to really f**k up UEFA. It is sad to see the likes of Sheff Utd. and Man Utd. getting excited about the possibility of getting into the Champions League by finishing 5th for f**ks sake. All the British clubs should act together: what would happen to the EL and the Champions League if in solidarity with MCFC all the other British clubs withdrew from those tournements? They would be totally bollox*d up, that's what.

(P.S. I read comments here talking about taking things through all levels of the legal system including the European Court - what is the point of that, post-Brexit, we can't on the one hand take back control, then when we need to, go crawling back to the Euro Legal system - that's daft).

 

[carlosthejackal]

If we were offered a small fine and slap on the wrist but refused it then our legal team must be one hundred percent confident of winning any legal battles.
Had a few beers last night with a red mate , went expecting the usual diatribe, totally surprised that he backed us , offered restraint of trade and corruption in the first instance. Said UEFA should be cracking down on owners who plunge clubs into debt while extracting a fortune .

 

[Big Pussy Bonpensiero]

Like all blues (and the media), I've been following this thread from the start and amidst all the speculation and "expert" opinion, which has almost universally been proved wrong, there's a fair degree of despondency brought on by a sense of impotence. I think that is because we need to focus. I hear talk about whether we are "guilty" or "innocent". That's a complete diversion from the main point that FFP, in all it's guises, is fundamentally wrong and marks the death of football. The establishment media are creating an illusion which even some City fans are falling for. This isn't an attack on City, it's a war on football, it's just that only the most courageous of those in te public eye and whose livelihood depends on it is ever going to say so. The media as a whole are collaborators in the biggest ever fraud on football.

So what can we do about it apart from wringing our hands and crying "woe is us" ?

Well, for whatever reason, we find ourselves in the resistance frontline. The first point is focus. No amount of speculation or "expert opinion" is going to help the club. Let the real experts get on with it and what will be will be. Arguing with a complicit media whose main "commentators" are purposely placed mouthpieces, lickspittles and stooges is pointless.

Our biggest weapon, and available to each and every one of us, is word of mouth. And I don't mean railing about injustice or wallowing in victimhood, no-one is listening and it comes across as pathetic. Everyone knows a non-united, liverpool, chelsea or Arsenal fan. Simply point out that if they support Wolves, Everton, Southampton... whoever, they are being conned. Not just short-term, forever. They will never, ever, compete with that cartel of clubs. In the 5000/1 chance that they do win the league, their best players, like Kante, for example, will be stripped from them and that will be that. If they enjoy being conned, fine, move on. But if you convince one person and they convince a couple of their friends, a groundswell will start and the product will, rightly, suffer.

The overall point is that this isn't about Manchester City, this is a fight for the future of football.

Ever so slightly going off topic here,not looking to change the subject, a yes or no will do for me but as it stands are Aston Villa in the Europa league next season regardless of the league cup final result as a result of our ban?

surely grossly unfair on them to wait the 4+ months on that decision if so!

 

[blue by birth]

And your point is?

My point is that we shouldn't worry about so called fans who only post when there's a chance to moan.

 

[Cobwebcat]

Right - here is my opinion.

Firstly - if Man City have messed up (and deceived us fans by lying about it) we should just accept the 2 year ban and move on.

However, if that is not the case we should be actively engaging the support of the other big English (and Scottish clubs) to really f**k up UEFA. It is sad to see the likes of Sheff Utd. and Man Utd. getting excited about the possibility of getting into the Champions League by finishing 5th for f**ks sake. All the British clubs should act together: what would happen to the EL and the Champions League if in solidarity with MCFC all the other British clubs withdrew from those tournements? They would be totally bollox*d up, that's what.

United and Liverpool are UEFA for the purposes of this dispute.

 

[purplenose]

I have asked for a link from the guy who posted it. Here is what was posted.

REVEALED: Manchester City's Premier League title in 2014 is now UNDER THREAT with potential backdated points deduction - and Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte could be sold

I haven't seen anything relating to it, so I think it may indeed be people taking the piss.

There is going to be all kinds of made up bloody rubbish going to be floating about. Anyone who scours the media more so now will drive themselves mad. Why bother when 99.9% of it will be made up bollocks.

Lets try being realistic however. Should this ban go ahead, and I think it will be set aside as I cannot see this all being dealt with legally in the time frame that would be required to establish beyond doubt that City wont get the lot over turned thus leaving UEFA liable for some astonishing amounts of damages. Should it be implemented at any point then players would leave.

The players with a couple of notable exceptions are not lifelong City fans they are Pro footballers who have a relatively short career. They do not have that many shots at the CL and many will not like the prospect of having those chances reduced by 2 at least. Certainly hard to take given they the players are in no way culpable for what has caused the ban. So yes its quite likely the DeBruynes Sterlings even Agueros will certainly think hard about what their best move would be.

I personally think that this had to come to a head and on that basis am quite pleased that the showdown would now seem to be imminent. If we win it will cause an earthquake in European football and signal the end of the cartel and the feeding of the self entitled self proclaimed elite clubs. They are afraid right now. If we lose then the consequences to us could be considerable. I think those talking about a return to York might be being a little over dramatic but the trophy count may dwindle for a time.

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

Right - here is my opinion.

Firstly - if Man City have messed up (and deceived us fans by lying about it) we should just accept the 2 year ban and move on.

However, if that is not the case we should be actively engaging the support of the other big English (and Scottish clubs) to really f**k up UEFA. It is sad to see the likes of Sheff Utd. and Man Utd. getting excited about the possibility of getting into the Champions League by finishing 5th for f**ks sake. All the British clubs should act together: what would happen to the EL and the Champions League if in solidarity with MCFC all the other British clubs withdrew from those tournements? They would be totally bollox*d up, that's what.

They won’t though as any of the 4 teams that get to play in the champions league get a shit ton of money from it. It pegs us back and gives the other teams an opportunity to claw back our current level of play and them to raise theirs with the money they get. Why would another team jeopardise that, it’s win and win at any cost be it creative Etihad deals or hacking our scouting system.

 

[SilverFox2]

I'm no expert but wouldn't that be like they are punishing us for not checking where the sponsors money originated prior to said companies paying us?

Surely we can just put up our Batfink style wing protectors and allow the array of bullets to ping off us in a general direction of say Liverpool and Standard Charter and see if they can offer up any explanation as why they didn't check where their sponsorship monies originated?

Or perhaps Uniteds GM sponsorship which was helped by US Gov cash when GM was financially stretched.

 

[Prater70]

Newman Noggs. Great post, I'd start with getting that message to Everton and start the ball rolling.

 

[dukyblue]

Ever so slightly going off topic here,not looking to change the subject, a yes or no will do for me but as it stands are Aston Villa in the Europa league next season regardless of the league cup final result as a result of our ban?

surely grossly unfair on them to wait the 4+ months on that decision if so!

No, unless they win it. If we win it the league will get an extra space, as it does in the FA Cup. So in theory Europa League could go down to 8th if the winner of FA cup has already qualified (or its us).

 

[jonah62]

I hope those Blues that express concern that our past achievements are now tainted in the eyes of other fans can stop being worried about that.

Footy is tribal. If this was United we would think UEFA are wrong but we are loving it and will take the piss every chance we get. That’s all other fans are doing to us. It’s normal.

If you are trying to persuade them otherwise you are wasting your time. Those that know don’t care and those that don’t won’t understand.

Ignore it or, even better embrace it. We bought the league and will do it again.....of course that’s nonsense but it’s the last thing opposition fans want to hear.

It’s unfair but just stop caring and let City deal with it and they will. You can’t change other fans minds they will think what they want to. Get used to it because when this is all sorted it won’t stop. All about money and appealing to the masses.

Try to enjoy the unfairness and stupidity it’s the only way.

It’s time for us blues to unleash our self depreciating humour.
Nobody takes the piss out of City better than ourselves.
That will boil a lot of people’s piss!!

 

[George Hannah]

Considering you usually reply to polite questions with abuse, that comes across as hypocritical. So no, I couldn't really be arsed. You could always try doing some research into why we 'failed' FFP in the first place that said, or wouldn't that suit your narrative of slating the club that you purport to follow?

'Purport' - lol.

 

[Gingers Dad]

Fairly sure he’s saying “and some of the dickheads actually think we’ll get relegated and stripped of our titles!”. In Portuguese, obviously.

E alguns dos idiotas pensam que vamos ser relegados e despojados dos nossos títulos.
Spot on

 

[hgblue]

We all have our opinions about this player, that player, this decision, that decision, but this situation is different. We need to come together as a club, put an end to the negativity, create a seige mentality, and concentrate on creating an atmosphere at games that shows the players and manager we’re right behind them. The League’s gone, fair enough, but let’s go to Madrid and wipe the fucking floor with them, let’s go all out to win the Champs League, so their competition suffers the maximum negative impact from not having the defending champions there next year. Fuck them, we’ll come through this and we can use this as motivation to make us even stronger.

 

[colinthewindowcleaner]

Bach to the whistling
Just looked on EBay and there’s lots available, unfortunately they seem to be all ‘Made in China’, on second thought...