City and Financial Doping | Charged by PL with 130 FFP breaches | Hearing begins 16th Sep 2024 | Concluded 9th Dec 2024 - Awaiting outcome

[Posh Red]

Paying for lawyers and barristers, legal actions, appeals etc…

That and paying larger fines to get out of other punishments like points deductions or titles being stripped. This isn’t over when the initial punishment is announced. It will rumble on for years.

But the punishment and verdict will be decided by the independent panel. How would paying larger fines relate?

 

[Plant0x84]

14 years is epic. This is the biggest scandal over the longest period of time in sport's history?

Russian doping? Lance Armstrong? Everyone else in pro cycling?

 

[Plant0x84]

But the punishment and verdict will be decided by the independent panel. How would paying larger fines relate?

Because money talks.

 

[horsechoker]

Russian doping? Lance Armstrong? Everyone else in pro cycling?

Fifa cheating against me on career mode?

 

[Posh Red]

Because money talks.

I don’t really follow the logic, to be honest. We shall see.

 

[Fortitude]

Russian doping? Lance Armstrong? Everyone else in pro cycling?

Were any of the cyclists at it for 14yrs?

 

[Plant0x84]

Fifa cheating against me on career mode?

Infantino is a wrong’un.

 

[Plant0x84]

Were any of the cyclists at it for 14yrs?

Don’t know tbh, but the sheer scale and widespread nature of the cheating dwarfs City I would say. Everyone was at it. City are a lone actor in a league of otherwise clean clubs (in theory)

 

[Fortitude]

Don’t know tbh, but the sheer scale and widespread nature of the cheating dwarfs City I would say. They are a lone actor in a league of otherwise clean clubs (in theory)

I was more meaning lone actors rather than state cheating, tbh.

 

[Plant0x84]

I was more meaning lone actors rather than state cheating, tbh.

City’s financial doping is *technically* state sponsored cheating though. It’s probably pedantic of me, and I don’t mean to diminish your point or City’s wrongdoing. Just doesn’t shock/surprise as much as the other cases I mentioned. Maybe we are too exposed to sport not being clean these days.

 

[Fortitude]

City’s financial doping is *technically* state sponsored cheating though. It’s probably pedantic of me, and I don’t mean to diminish your point or City’s wrongdoing. Just doesn’t shock/surprise as much as the other cases I mentioned. Maybe we are too exposed to sport not being clean these days.

That *technically* is an important caveat here, though. They've come into a league they don't own and cheated from the ground up. It's a bit different to having everything "above board" with control groups completely under your thumb and an army of scientists etc. on job 24/7.

 

[Plant0x84]

That *technically* is an important caveat here, though. They've come into a league they don't own and cheated from the ground up. It's a bit different to having everything "above board" with control groups completely under your thumb and an army of scientists etc. on job 24/7.

True.

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

So 130 charges

 

[Squeaky_Bum_Time]

So 130 charges

This seems like a good sign. Or am I just being optimistic for no reason? Why would you add more charges once the proceedings start? I’m assuming more was uncovered during the process.

 

[Cloud7]

You may all be right and City are in for the chop on a grand scale. What makes me pause for thought is that, whether you or I like it or not (I don't), City are one of the jewels in the Premier League crown. Yep, those jewels may well be blood diamonds so as to speak, but even so... The Premier League is a supreme money making machine, those rights go for gazillions. I am sure the PL is staffed exclusively by virtuous men whose only thought and purpose is the pursuit of justice (erm....) but will they willingly risk tarnishing the brand, risk losing some of those gazillions ? I have my doubts.

Here's the thing mate, if your post had applied to any of United, Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea, I would have agreed with you that they were indeed the jewels on the crown, and that they are so important to the PL brand that nothing of significance would be allowed to happen to them one way or another.

City are not that. City's global following is largely irrelevant. When they win stuff, no one cares after the first day. They are, results wise, one of the biggest players in Europe and they are largely ignored by everyone. I actually think the PL can go hard on city and it won't have any negative effects on the league because no one actually cares about city.

 

[Mercurial]

What's the scope of possible punishment available? Monetary or a one season points deduction won't really make a dent.

 

[Fluctuation0161]

But the punishment and verdict will be decided by the independent panel. How would paying larger fines relate?

Because they can afford to pay massive legal teams to find silly loopholes and/or delay the process for as long as possible. As they have been doing.

 

[Fluctuation0161]

So 130 charges

This happened ages ago.

 

[Noodle]

What happened to our charge? We had a single charge for paying agents and we self reported it. Thought it’d have been resolved by now.

Edit: Actually, I don’t think we even got charged, it seems to have just disappeared

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

This seems like a good sign. Or am I just being optimistic for no reason? Why would you add more charges once the proceedings start? I’m assuming more was uncovered during the process.

it was 130 ages ago but media reported 115 (I did read why but can’t remember) and it spread over social media/stuck.

 

[stevoc]

14 years is epic. This is the biggest scandal over the longest period of time in sport's history?

It's arguably the biggest cheating scandal in the history of sport.

 

[tomaldinho1]

What happened to our charge? We had a single charge for paying agents and we self reported it. Thought it’d have been resolved by now.

Edit: Actually, I don’t think we even got charged, it seems to have just disappeared

I thought you got green light for the hotel sales? Or are you talking about a different charge?

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

It's arguably the biggest cheating scandal in the history of sport.

Bigger than the Calviopoli in 06?

 

[SuperiorXI]

It's arguably the biggest cheating scandal in the history of sport.

Arguably?

 

[Noodle]

I thought you got green light for the hotel sales? Or are you talking about a different charge?

When the new owners took over in 2022 they noticed some financial transactions were missing from those reported to the FA and UEFA. They reported this, UEFA fined us £8.6m and the FA said a while back they were close to a conclusion. Not sure we were charged but seemed like a penalty was coming (points, transfer ban or fine) but nothing has happened since.

 

[Roonaldo90]

14 years is epic. This is the biggest scandal over the longest period of time in sport's history?

Surely if they have been cheating for 14 years something would have come out, some concrete evidence, a smoking gun or a document or email?

 

[tomaldinho1]

When the new owners took over in 2022 they noticed some financial transactions were missing from those reported to the FA and UEFA. They reported this, UEFA fined us £8.6m and the FA said a while back they were close to a conclusion. Not sure we were charged but seemed like a penalty was coming (points, transfer ban or fine) but nothing has happened since.

Oh yeah you got fined for that. Was like £10m I think. Thought that’s that.

 

[Don't Kill Bill]

It's arguably the biggest cheating scandal in the history of sport.

Barca and the hidden payments to the VP of the referees springs to mind as a possible contender, and they seem to have walked away from that.

 

[2 man midfield]

Bigger than the Calviopoli in 06?

Not for me. It’s up there though.

Calciopoli was a handful of clubs actively engaging in match fixing via bribing refs. The city stuff, while bad, is essentially the same as what Chelsea and Blackburn have already done but been allowed to get away with. The book cooking and lack of co-operation is an added factor, mind.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Barca and the hidden payments to the VP of the referees springs to mind as a possible contender, and they seem to have walked away from that.

Some of the same people involved in both isn't it? Mes q un club and all that.

 

[Noodle]

I thought you got green light for the hotel sales? Or are you talking about a different charge?

When the new owners took over in 2022 they noticed some financial transactions were missing from those reported to the FA and UEFA. They reported this, UEFA fined us £8.6m and the FA said a while back they were close to a conclusion. Not sure we were charged but seemed like a penalty was coming (points, transfer ban or fine) but nothing has happened since.

Oh yeah you got fined for that. Was like £10m I think. Thought that’s that.

£8.6m but that was just to UEFA, the FA still haven’t ruled on it and many expected a points deduction

 

[Herschel Krustofsky]

Not necessarily that but just introduce some common sense rules. Rules that people running PL should know about already if they have any experience in any other industry.
This sort of shit really gives the government a good case for introducing a regulator which nobody wants but will be inevitable if the current shit show continues.

Why would you be against a regulator given you’re advocating for some of the stuff it could regulate?

Self regulation by the PL, FIFA etc. has hardly been stellar (unless you measure it by the bank balances of their execs)

 

[tomaldinho1]

When the new owners took over in 2022 they noticed some financial transactions were missing from those reported to the FA and UEFA. They reported this, UEFA fined us £8.6m and the FA said a while back they were close to a conclusion. Not sure we were charged but seemed like a penalty was coming (points, transfer ban or fine) but nothing has happened since.


£8.6m but that was just to UEFA, the FA still haven’t ruled on it and many expected a points deduction

Ah ok - well hopefully (for you) it's been forgotten. Would have thought we'd have heard more about by now.

 

[Borys]

Very little hope that anything will happen to them, this will be VW scandal all over again. A fine and some people sacked as punishment, and the rest will just roll on. They are too big to get hurt seriously.

 

[The Purley King]

Why would you be against a regulator given you’re advocating for some of the stuff it could regulate?

Self regulation by the PL, FIFA etc. has hardly been stellar (unless you measure it by the bank balances of their execs)

I’m not necessarily against it, just would prefer PL puts in the right governance itself.
If it can’t or won’t then by all means get the government (gulp) involved

 

[Herschel Krustofsky]

I’m not necessarily against it, just would prefer PL puts in the right governance itself.
If it can’t or won’t then by all means get the government (gulp) involved

Fair enough. You sound more optimistic than I am!

I think it’s already that bent out of shape intervention is in order.

 

[FortunaUtd]

Surely if they have been cheating for 14 years something would have come out, some concrete evidence, a smoking gun or a document or email?

Is this sarcastic?
The evidence, including 'smoking gun' internal emails, has been published extensively 5 years ago..
https://www.spiegel.de/internationa...-rules-to-the-tune-of-millions-a-1236346.html

 

[TsuWave]

 

[FortunaUtd]

Is this sarcastic?
The evidence, including 'smoking gun' internal emails, has been published extensively 5 years ago..
https://www.spiegel.de/internationa...-rules-to-the-tune-of-millions-a-1236346.html

Also,
https://www.spiegel.de/internationa...-state-a-2ad5b586-1d82-4a21-8065-f3c081cd91a4

The article contains several links to pdf dossiers collecting numerous internal emails and contracts discussing and scheming these violations in detail.
It is all out there, there is no doubt whatsoever City systematically fabricated and inflated sponsorship deals and bypassed FFP on payments from player and manager remuneration to transfer dealings. There is no doubt they are guilty, it is all merely about whether the governing bodies can actually manage to punish them.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Also,
https://www.spiegel.de/internationa...-state-a-2ad5b586-1d82-4a21-8065-f3c081cd91a4

The article contains several links to pdf dossiers collecting numerous internal emails and contracts discussing and scheming these violations in detail.
It is all out there, there is no doubt whatsoever City systematically fabricated and inflated sponsorship deals and bypassed FFP on payments from player and manager remuneration to transfer dealings. There is no doubt they are guilty, it is all merely about whether the governing bodies can actually manage to punish them.

And there's a few journalists (emphasis on a few, as most of them are happy in their wilful ignorance) that have done good summaries on those leaks. There's genuinely no space for doubt on City's guilt, it's just about due process and seeing whether the PL are able to bring it altogether nicely.