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

havent you heard? theyre a massively profitable machine now, turning over more money than any club in the world apart from Real Madrid, with record numbers year on year. Just dont ask any questions about how they got here, what's important is that they are now a fantastic, clean, well oiled machine and if you want to know anything more you're probably just a bitter fan or part of the cartel. They're great, and a credit to all the little clubs who wanted to get to the top

This is all well and true but here are the numbers that really matter over the 3-year PSR cycle just gone:

United profit from player sales - £80m
City profit from player sales - £328m

City net interest payments - £15m
United net interest payments - £145m

I don't doubt they have included commercial sponsorships but the reality is you could knock a couple hundred million off their revenue over that period and they'd still be in a much better position PSR wise than United.
 
I dont really believe any of those City numbers. There is always something cooked up or engineered at the back end to make up those numbers.

Is thing over yet soon? This has to be the biggest joke in football. We are not talking about it much because they are a bit average at the moment. It almost makes me think this poor season is to take the spotlight off of them....good thing I am not much into conspiracies! Pep is too competitive to pull that stuff.
 
I think the outcome of this case will be a real watershed moment. Either an appropriate punishment is delivered and City face some sort of relegation/expulsion or we get a ridiculous "financial penalty" that will in effect be a financial takeover of the game by City's backers.

The game faces a stark choice between being a genuine competitive league competition or we get a stealth superleague where a middle-eastern potentate decides who wins the league each year. If you think I'm being dramatic just look at what happens in the Saudi league where a central "controller" decides which players a club can buy.

Also just look at the fiasco that Formula 1 became once it was the plaything of princes, rather than a genuine sport. It starts with influencing decisions in critical moments and ends with corrupt fixing of titles and is the antithesis of true sport.

I know some people like Wrestling...and that's fine but I prefer real sport and I hope the outcome of the case is a victory for sport rather than a victory for entertainment.
 
This is all well and true but here are the numbers that really matter over the 3-year PSR cycle just gone:

United profit from player sales - £80m
City profit from player sales - £328m

City net interest payments - £15m
United net interest payments - £145m

I don't doubt they have included commercial sponsorships but the reality is you could knock a couple hundred million off their revenue over that period and they'd still be in a much better position PSR wise than United.
Profit from players bought while breaking financial rules.

But that's all in the past so they can benefit now?
 
I think the outcome of this case will be a real watershed moment. Either an appropriate punishment is delivered and City face some sort of relegation/expulsion or we get a ridiculous "financial penalty" that will in effect be a financial takeover of the game by City's backers.

The game faces a stark choice between being a genuine competitive league competition or we get a stealth superleague where a middle-eastern potentate decides who wins the league each year. If you think I'm being dramatic just look at what happens in the Saudi league where a central "controller" decides which players a club can buy.

Also just look at the fiasco that Formula 1 became once it was the plaything of princes, rather than a genuine sport. It starts with influencing decisions in critical moments and ends with corrupt fixing of titles and is the antithesis of true sport.

I know some people like Wrestling...and that's fine but I prefer real sport and I hope the outcome of the case is a victory for sport rather than a victory for entertainment.

Absolutely.

If City aren't servery punished then it's the end for any teams that want to try and run sensibly and sustainably.

Look at what's happened to the French league since PSG got taken over by Qatar.
 
“we were just about to send you the missing documents for where we found the money to buy those players, but you’ll never believe what happened to them.”
 
Absolutely.

If City aren't servery punished then it's the end for any teams that want to try and run sensibly and sustainably.

Look at what's happened to the French league since PSG got taken over by Qatar.

If they aren't severely punished we should go and buy absolutely anybody we want
 
This is all well and true but here are the numbers that really matter over the 3-year PSR cycle just gone:

United profit from player sales - £80m
City profit from player sales - £328m

City net interest payments - £15m
United net interest payments - £145m

I don't doubt they have included commercial sponsorships but the reality is you could knock a couple hundred million off their revenue over that period and they'd still be in a much better position PSR wise than United.

City are a team that claim to have the second biggest income in world football.

Meanwhile, they can't fill their own stadium even when they give tickets away to local schools.

Every aspect of their financial 'strength' is a lie.
 
City have history with this too
I think I remember reading that they made an official complaint to Sky a few years ago regarding the comments of Keane/Souness which left Sky sweating

They had Jamie O Hara spouting crap just for good measure on Sunday.

According him United might as well not bother building their 100 k stadium because they won't fill it as all the new young fans coming through will be City supporters in future.

They are that pathetic it wouldn't surprise me if it was staged to counter the Sherwood comments.

The press as whole are utterly shameless with their coverage of City.
 
So is €210m in a January window a new world record?

If 130 charges is also a world record for a football club, that would be two very impressive records to break at the same time!
 
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City Is gonna get a slap on the wrist if not they won't be splurging money on their 3 new signings
I have thought the same. It’s almost like they now a 10M fine and 18 month transfer ban is on the way. Stock pile now. Get the new signings up to speed and come out flying at the start of next season
 
City Is gonna get a slap on the wrist if not they won't be splurging money on their 3 new signings
City would be doing what they are doing in the following scenarios
  • If they knew they are going to be punished harshly
  • If they knew it's a slap on the wrist
  • If they don't know the outcome
  • If there were no case against them in the first place.
 
Be interesting to know what/if any clauses exist in these contracts regarding potential punishments and the players options

You'd think any agent worth his salt would be insisting on such to protect their clients - I've not seen anything leaked to this effect though
 
City would be doing what they are doing in the following scenarios
  • If they knew they are going to be punished harshly
  • If they knew it's a slap on the wrist
  • If they don't know the outcome
  • If there were no case against them in the first place.
This is my take too.

I think they are just spending to ensure they get CL football next year and this case has no bearing on that. They have to just carry on regardless of the potential outcome and try and get the best finish, to an underwhelming season, that they can manage. If they don't spend now, then there is a real risk they end the year with no trophies and no CL football next season.

My take on the Haaland contract is that they tie him down to a long contract then, if the worst happens, they will maximise his value in the event anyone comes trying to poach him if they are outside the PL. A Haaland with a 10 year £900k pw contract is going to cost any would be suitor a lot more than a Haaland with a 2 year £400k pw contract, and might make it hard for him to move on. The new contract also, reportedly, has removed any release clauses.

All of this points to them being more concerned about possible penalties, not less concerned, in my opinion.
 
Be interesting to know what/if any clauses exist in these contracts regarding potential punishments and the players options

You'd think any agent worth his salt would be insisting on such to protect their clients - I've not seen anything leaked to this effect though
TBH, all their moves suggest they're more worried about a transfer ban than relegation. For me this is looking like a points deduction that takes away CL football for a year and a multi window ban.
 
TBH, all their moves suggest they're more worried about a transfer ban than relegation. For me this is looking like a points deduction that takes away CL football for a year and a multi window ban.

How do you figure their actions would differ if they were more worried about relegation?
 
City would be doing what they are doing in the following scenarios
  • If they knew they are going to be punished harshly
  • If they knew it's a slap on the wrist
  • If they don't know the outcome
  • If there were no case against them in the first place.
Exactly, while I do believe the club are giving off the air of confidence with regards the charges.
The spending is likely summer spending that's rushed ahead cause we're in freefall on the pitch, not even remotely charges related. Team is old and needs refreshing, better do it earlier before we finish 10th.
 
If anyone wants to indulge in some depressing rumours, check what Norwegian commentator Øyvind Alsaker says
 
So is €210m in a January window a new world record?

If 130 charges is also a world record for a football club, that would be two very impressive records to break at the same time!

Todd Boehly scoffs at a puny 210m euro spent in January.

I don't think we can tell much from City's spending other than they have a lot of money and an aging side with a lot of players to replace and transition out over the next few years.

More than anything, it seems like a pretty slapdash approach to recruitment. Sell Palmer and Alvarez in consecutive summers, and then spend 75m on Marmoush because you have nobody to play off Haaland in central spaces. Buy Nico Gonzalez rather than targeting a bigger talent last summer like Joao Neves or a prime age star like Bruno G because you have no legs at all in midfield and Pep clearly doesn't really trust the academy players in that position. Let Walker go and watch John Stones leave, then replace them with two very young and very raw CBs with big adjustments to make coming into the PL and who might not come good or might just not be ready for a major role for a few years.
 
I would laugh if they get a harsher punishment because of how confident/arrogant they are acting. Basically a complete and total disregard for the process and rules.