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

[manimanc]

So you've done a Seaford ?

Are you tripping?

 

[Andy Conway]

Overlooking the fact that Liverpool failed FFP in 2013 and only got away with it because they failed to qualify for Europe and again in 2015 when they fraudulently offset £35 million (some sources quote £50 million) against non-existent stadium expenditure on the non-existent Stanley Park Project. Whatever the figure it's rather a lot for mowing the grass a couple of times.

But #thismeansmow

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Plus rigging the rules in their favour a generation or so ago. Got no right to call anyone out for cheating.

 

[kaz7]

I see I’ve come in for some fair abuse on here for an apparently stupid comment.


However, let me just explain why I’m concerned. Reading the 2000 plus pages on here has given me the assurance that City are on safe grounds and will win the case. Ranging from, UEFA didn’t even look at our defence to proof that the Etihad sponsorship was clearly paid by the Executive Council from Abu Dhabi and not from our owners.


The lawyer we hired is famous for a technicality in fighting Brexit. So while I’m as concerned as everyone else here on the outcome, I’m merely questioning the need for this kind of approach for our case. Obviously I don’t want the shittiest lawyers but just asking why we really have to get the best at 20k if we’re sure of our case?

Stop digging,he has had a long career not just his recent big case obvs

 

[bluenova]

It's a weird article.
It states that Henry bought in largely because FFP allowed those with big incomes to stay on top.

That's been the accepted story for years. It usually comes out whenever City and FFP are mentioned in relation to Liverpool, and how bitter their owners are as they thought they were buying into a closed shop.

 

[M18CTID]

Plus rigging the rules in their favour a generation or so ago. Got no right to call anyone out for cheating.

Yep. Some of us have long memories. The carving up of gate receipts and the early live TV rights by the so-called “Big Five” was as bent as it gets.

 

[TheThirdDeano]

Whether football is fixed is mad or not he raises a good point.

You have to wonder why are best and brightest with the whistle are constantly absent from the biggest stages outside the UK.

Are they judged to be unfit for service? Why are they good enough for us then?

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Yep. Some of us have long memories. The carving up of gate receipts and the early live TV rights by the so-called “Big Five” was as bent as it gets.

That carve up was conceived with the express design of fucking everyone one else over. And for quite a while, it worked.

 

[Ric]

Conn is little more than an Uncle Tom for his colleagues at The Guardian. An embarrassment to his profession.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

As much as I respect Mullock, that smacks of click-bait nonsense.

Does a bit.
But I like the sentiment.

 

[Uffa]

Whether football is fixed is mad or not he raises a good point.

You have to wonder why are best and brightest with the whistle are constantly absent from the biggest stages outside the UK.

Are they judged to be unfit for service? Why are they good enough for us then?

Why are they good enough for you? Because they're English (and English-trained) referees. I don't think football leagues usually employ foreign referees or ones that are trained by other leagues.

As for European or world stages, there are some British refs (e.g. Michael Oliver in the knockout rounds of the CL, even if I don't have much sympathy for him) but they aren't very present simply because they have competition from the other leagues. If a ref from a different league is deemed better or more experienced, he's gonna be picked ahead of a PL ref.

In the PL you have no choice, outside of it there are other options. Same goes for the other leagues. We haven't produced great refs in a while either (Rizzoli was the last one I can think of).

 

[TheThirdDeano]

Why are they good enough for you? Because they're English (and English-trained) referees. I don't think football leagues usually employ foreign referees or ones that are trained by other leagues.

As for European or world stages, there are some British refs (e.g. Michael Oliver in the knockout rounds of the CL, even if I don't have much sympathy for him) but they aren't very present simply because they have competition from the other leagues. If a ref from a different league is deemed better or more experienced, he's gonna be picked ahead of a PL ref.

In the PL you have no choice, outside of it there are other options. Same goes for the other leagues. We haven't produced great refs in a while either (Rizzoli was the last one I can think of).

Maybe refs should work as hard at fitness and rule understand as the players?

 

[Uffa]

Maybe refs should work as hard at fitness and rule understand as the players?

I agree that they should be match-fit, but I'm pretty sure they actually know the rules better than the players.

 

[BertTrautmann'sParachute]

It is political not football related for sure. We are football fans not politicians. Every new owner has to pass a fit and proper person test and ours did so that's that.

They can talk about Yemen etcetera but who sells them the weapons? We live in a country that invaded a country and started an illegal war based on a lie that killed thousands of men, women and children, so how dare anyone living here lecture other countries on human rights?

Conn can have his views but to consistently bad mouth the club he is supposed to support, while blowing smoke up Liverpool's and EUFA's arse is unforgivable.

As far as Yemen goes, this country is at war with the country (although it has done this behind the back of parliament). You mention selling weapons (to Saudia) but we are also training their pilots to bomb the place (in Wales of all places) and we have service personnel in Yemen helping direct the bombs on some of the poorest people on the planet.

 

[Marvin]

The Conn piece is the Guardian chasing hits from Liverpool fans, and general populist City bashing which they've become expect at.

The Guardian are a commercial organisation pushing whatever generates traffic to their site which they can convert to advertising. A sceptical journalism should at least have been looking at UEFA's own conduct. How was FFP forged? In whose interest? What was the context for the dispute (UEFA changing their own rules at the last minute) etc.

They don't ask the awkward questions of the establishment because it's not in their commercial interests to do so and because politically they are aligned with them.

 

[mike1923]

Why are they good enough for you? Because they're English (and English-trained) referees. I don't think football leagues usually employ foreign referees or ones that are trained by other leagues.

As for European or world stages, there are some British refs (e.g. Michael Oliver in the knockout rounds of the CL, even if I don't have much sympathy for him) but they aren't very present simply because they have competition from the other leagues. If a ref from a different league is deemed better or more experienced, he's gonna be picked ahead of a PL ref.

In the PL you have no choice, outside of it there are other options. Same goes for the other leagues. We haven't produced great refs in a while either (Rizzoli was the last one I can think of).

Clattenburg probably the best we’ve produced in years. Says it all

 

[cheekybids]

The Conn piece is the Guardian chasing hits from Liverpool fans, and general populist City bashing which they've become expect at.

The Guardian are a commercial organisation pushing whatever generates traffic to their site which they can convert to advertising. A sceptical journalism should at least have been looking at UEFA's own conduct. How was FFP forged? In whose interest? What was the context for the dispute (UEFA changing their own rules at the last minute) etc.

They don't ask the awkward questions of the establishment because it's not in their commercial interests to do so and because politically they are aligned with them.

It’s clear that journalists are paid to follow a brief, the assignment is this story from this angle. Its also clear that companies, individuals place stories by paying for them. When a national company I worked for was going to be taken over by a Chinese investor, articles were placed & stories on TV months before.

Ever since then I always look at every story & question the angle & think who benefits, look at the emotive language.

By the way isn’t that Jurgen a nice chap.

 

[BlueAnorak]

Maybe refs should work as hard at fitness and rule understand as the players?

Personally, I think the killer is the total lack of consistent refereeing decisions.

 

[skivitheblue9320]

Classy. Seems he learned his trade from his old man.

If my old mate Gerry Greenberg would have been working on it back then, he would have headbutted the editor.

As it is, Gerry moved to South Africa, had the full sex change and is now known as Donna Gee.

A Jewish titan of the industry. I'm sorry to see you just got twats for your own family's sad story.

Are you serious about GG, I was a messenger boy as a kid at the Daily Star for him, he was a belting bloke I recall!

 

[mat]

I agree that they should be match-fit, but I'm pretty sure they actually know the rules better than the players.

They know the rules but they work to "Maintain the product".

Business over sporting integrity. It's been decided that Liverpool being dominant will make the business more money than have a true sporting contest year in, year out.