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

[ChicagoBlue]

At the risk of a backlash, does anyone think we did what we are accused of?

for the record, FFP is there to keep the Status Quo. It’s not fit for purpose.

Looking at the ban “logically” however, our main sponsors at the time and now all have links to our owners. It does look like pocket passing.

They are stand alone companies, that can do as they please. If they are private companies, then everyone can fuck off. If they are public companies, then they have to follow the rules for public companies. If they’ve done that, then everyone can fuck off.

What we have are stolen internal emails that SUGGEST that HRH has put PERSONAL funds into CFG to make up for funds not out in by the companies who were supposed to pay them under their contracts. That information is both stolen and unverified, provided by a personal now convicted of the crime, and publicized in a foreign newspaper with parochial interests. During the investigation of these stolen materials, supposedly secret discussions and negotiations were made public, further disadvantaging and denigrating the company (CFG). These have damaged the name and reputation of both the companies and individuals involved, who are sophisticated businesses and businessmen, and they are entitled to their day in court....and will, no doubt, get it.

UEFA is steeped in corruption, to the point that the last leader of the organization was done for a bung. They claim to be squeaky clean, but they aren’t, and may need to tread very carefully, especially given the allusions to information that City may have on certain individuals and organizations.

Indeed, FFP itself may be under the microscope in any legal proceeding, as City may be able to show a concerted cartel action against their business, not to mention the restraint of trade, open only to the cartel enjoying the fruits of FFP, that it has forced upon City. It can be no coincidence that the cartel has members who seek to harm City in both the domestic and international arenas. It can be no coincidence that City’s timekeeping is dealt with more harshly than the scourge of racism sweeping the European game. It can be no coincidence that UEFA did nothing to a club that first advertised, then terrorized our club with mob action. A mob action, I might add, that was both televised and streamed live in the internet to all and sundry, from which not a single arrest has been made. (FWIW, I think City missed an opportunity to walk away from that tie when that happened, but again tried to be the bigger people, and for what?)

Pandora’s Box has been opened with this draconian penalty, and even though it appears to have been crafted to allow a “successful” appeal against its severity, while still banning us for 1 year, I think it is time to go to the mat with UEFA...and if necessary, the FA and PL.

Indeed, this may be the catalyst for the ME/China money to flow, and a seriously well-funded effort to undermine the Champions League with a Tournament of Champions type competition created. The only problem with that, of course, is that the same teams that are fucking us over now are the ones needed to create the tournament and make it a success.

Conversely, a European Super League might be the answer, with relegation to create serious competition, and a €1,000,000,000 purse at stake.

Whatever happens, the status quo ended today.

In my lifetime, Manchester City have been a few different teams. The team of the late 60s and early 70s gave way to a long lean period where money became significantly more prevalent in the game and the PL took that to new heights, just as we were struggling. However, we clawed our way back with some Typical City plucky years. That period ended in 2008, when it was clear new owners weren’t messing about and City were going to develop the club into a world class outfit. That started the backlash. “Dirty Arab Oil Money” and the rest of the racist, xenophobic missives reared their ugly head, “‘istree” became a word used to deride a club that had over a century of it, and was even the first to do a domestic and European double, and th club even became the punching bag for the likes of Sky, who never seem to tire of trotting out stories of derision whenever possible.

I’m short, we have become not only the most successful team in British football over the last decade, but the one everyone loves to hate, because the media and the red pundits that have infiltrated it at every level, not to mention at every level of the game, both in Britain and Europe, can think of almost nothing positive to say about us.

However, today was football’s version of the Valentine’s Day Massacre, where the Mafia bosses at UEFA lined us up against the wall and have attempted to assassinate the club, both financially and reputationally. This smear will never go away, and the financial losses from not only missing out in CL football for two seasons, but the commercial accounts that will be decimated by this, will hobble the club for years, right as it needs to rebuild an aging squad that has seen its past glories fade somewhat this season.

And, when have they chosen to do it? Right as the Champions League is starting up again and City have the hardest Last 16 tie they have ever faced!

So, in terms of City eras, 2008-2019 will stand alone as the ra when City were reborn, rebuilt and became resurgent.

Today, a new era has begun at Manchester City. What it will hold is impossible to know, but it is going to start on shaky ground. From this moment on, only the wealth and hard-earned business reputation of an ownership wishing to fight the charges with everything they have can save the club from a lean period, where the world’s greatest manager will leave, the club’s reputed greatest ever player will leave, and the club’s greatest ever goal scorer will leave, and the club doesn’t have the financial clout or attractiveness to replace them with similar talents.

While I’m certainly not suggesting walking around the Etihad with a sandwich board proclaiming “The End is Nigh!” it is very easy to see this going badly for City and massive changes coming to the club which may set it back a decade.

FFP is a rolling 3 year cycle. That means two years of lost revenues would hit the books for A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS, before we were clear of the problem. In those first two years, we would be trying to maintain and rebuild the club in a shoestring compared to our European competitors. In year 3, we would have those 2 years behind us, but would we even qualify for the CL that season? If not, add another year in to the back end of the 5, and so on and so forth... And, all of that is BEFORE a €30M fine, which removes our profits for the last 3 years, too. Plus, what does it all do to the CFG, when the goose that lays the golden eggs is stopped from laying them???

So, mark the calendar: February 14, 2020...an new era began at Manchester City, and it didn’t start well.

 

[Nellies left peg]

FFP is such a farce, football is fixed. The last two seasons have really opened my eyes to just how corrupt it really is.
Clubs like Bolton, Bury, Macclesfield etc. Continue to be mismanaged and not one shit is given by the FA but clubs with good owners who have money are penalised for daring to dream and have ambitions.

If FFP doesn’t feck you over enough then along comes VAR to feck you even more until you remember your status that’s no threat to the so called big clubs!
There is no doubting Man City are a top team and historically a big club domestically but still relatively recent to the top table in Europe and this smacks of protecting your Real Madrid’s, Barcelona’s, Juventus’ etc by UEFA in my opinion.
I hope that you fight this and expose ffp the FA UEFA etc. For who they are which is a corrupt body that fights to protect the elite.

Fifa ,UEFA, Blatter ,Platini .Qatar world cup bid. The whole game is corrupt run by dodgy ****s and they have the nerve to punish us for being owned and well run by a middle east owner who has done nothing but good for the club and the city

 

[Franny's toilet roll]

How quickly do you think CAS can hear the case?

already heard it mate, they just said UEFA have to formally judge us before they say anything. Fine reduced and 2 years down to 1 , in my opinion

 

[chesterguy]

Then how do you explain PSG got a sanction together with City in 2014 if Platini was giving a special protection to the french club ?

You just have to read UEFA rules to understand the differences in the case and why/how they are trying to trap City.

-PSG case : inflated sponsorship from related parties. It has been dealt with according to their rules :

BREAK-EVEN REQUIREMENT
Notion of relevant income and expenses

1 Relevant income and relevant expenses are defined in Annex X.

2 Relevant income and expenses must be calculated and reconciled by the licensee to the audited annual financial statements and/or underlying accounting records and to the projected break-even information if applicable.

3 Relevant income and expenses from related parties must be adjusted to reflect the fair value of any such transactions or, for player transfers between clubs that are related parties, the value in accordance with Annex X

PSG sponsors from related parties have been investigated again and again and the value adjusted to the "fair value". After that, PSG balanced the account to cover the difference by selling players.
Hence why they couldn't sanction. They have to follow their rules.



-In City case, the leaks have given them ammunition to say City have breached those rules :

The licensee must:
a) cooperate with the licensor and the UEFA Club Financial Control Body in respect of their requests and enquiries;

b) provide the licensor and the UEFA Club Financial Control Body with all necessary information and/or relevant documents to fully demonstrate that the monitoring requirements are fulfilled, as well as any other document requested and deemed to be relevant for club monitoring decision-making, by the deadline set by the licensor and/or the UEFA administration (the reporting entity or combination of entities in respect of which information is required must be the same as for club licensing);

c) confirm that all the submitted documentation and information are complete and accurate;

d) promptly notify the licensor in writing about any subsequent events that constitute a significant change to the information previously submitted to the licensor, including a change of legal form or legal group structure

And by subsequently adjusting the contract to their new "fair value", they have artificially put you into break even deficit.

Then City has accused UEFA of having breached on of their own rules :

The licensor must:

a) communicate the deadlines of the monitoring process to the licensee;

b) cooperate with the UEFA Club Financial Control Body in respect of its requests and enquiries;

c) as a minimum assess the monitoring documentation in accordance with Annex IX;

d) assess and confirm to the UEFA Club Financial Control Body that the selected reporting perimeter is the same as used for the fulfilment of the club licensing criteria and is appropriate for club monitoring purposes;

e) inform the UEFA Club Financial Control Body of any relevant information submitted by the licensee in respect of club monitoring requirements and any event occurring after the licensing decision that constitutes a significant change to the information previously submitted by the licensee.

In carrying out these responsibilities, the licensor ensures equal treatment and guarantees full confidentiality of all information provided.


It is not hard to follow if you read UEFA rules. No need to put Platini into the discussion. If there are leaks pointing to PSG doing the same thing, you can be sure Tebas and the cartel and the media will push (he is already doing it now) for another investigation and further due sanctions.

The issue you seem to be missing is the none of our Sponsore are related parties therefore where they got their money is completely irrelevent. If I own a football club I cannot put my money in due to the UEFA rules but a company which I do not own could sponsor my club for whatever it wants subject to market value rules but where that company gets its money from is not relevent

 

[Ric]

Our accounts would have been doctored?

Presumably if we’ve been inflating our income we’d be due a tax rebate. Swings and roundabouts.

 

[Damanino]

I dont care but if we need to bribe CAS people (just please dont have internal emails about it) we have to do it as we have to try everything as if they uphold the 2 year ban and 30m penalty or even if they reduce it to 1 year both means we guilty as fuck and gives Premier League an opportunity as well to fuck us the same way knowing the decision. Our reputation will be 100x worse than it is now and it is already shit, cheaters etc
Believe me 90% of other clubs supporters had a nice day yesterday saying finally Uefa had the balls to do the right thing...
Tebas, Rummenigge, Woodward, Liverpool CEO and the rest of the fuckers now sit back happily and enjoy the chaos...

The PL will be the one where we will take a big hit can see points deduction, transfer ban etc.

 

[Gazza]

City should reimburse the fans that bought Real Madrid home tickets and play the game behind closed doors citing that they've done it as they can't guarantee the safety of the eufa officials.
On a serious note I think things will come to a head regarding the fans in this game ~ maybe giving them cause to ban us further.
and anyway there is no way we're going to be allowed to knock the jewel in eufa's crown out of the competition.

 

[the talisman]

already heard it mate, they just said UEFA have to formally judge us before they say anything. Fine reduced and 2 years down to 1 , in my opinion

I’m pretty sure they said they couldn’t hear the case until UEFA released their decision, and that City could return to court after that happens.
So, it’s happened and now we go back to CAS.

 

[Heisenberg's Blue Sky]

Fuckin hell I dip my head into the thread to see that another 100 pages have gone by since last night and first things am reading is its the end of MCFC as we know it, Pep's off, owners off, they'll tear down the campus, can't sign anyone ever again...I can only assume these people are WUMS or nobs who have long since pretended to be blues who find this situation too hard to not resist taking their digs. If they are blues then im surprised theyve made it this far after our dark days and successive relegations and surely would have leapt off a bridge given they're coming across as doom and gloom merchants. Pathetic.
To those posters seeing the bigger picture, those with a clear head, those that knew the fix was always coming in and those that decide to support the club, fans, owners and players with clarity, I salute you. Anyone on the WUM or spreading their cowardly panic then hang your head in shame. CTID

 

[Ric]

It’ll be interesting to see how UEFA justify the length of the punishment, given that it was leaked that the IC were recommending a one-year ban. It’s as if the AC just thought “fuck it” and arbitrarily doubled it in response to our appeal at the CAS.