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

[roseguy64]

Think they're being too cocky and pushing their luck. It's a front.

Yep. Plus the Haaland contract was mostly agreed before the case was even heard.

 

[Adisa]

Not looking good, is it?

 

[Arios]

I'm not reading much but City are spending big now cause they're afraid they're gonna ban them from next transfer windows?
Omar Marmoush, Reis planning to snatch Cambiaso and D. Luiz from Juventus... all now!! seems too much even if their season looks grey right now

 

[UzbekRed]

City are likely to avoid relegation to the championship it seems. I talked to the agent of one of the players they have just signed and he was convinced that his client will never play in the championship. Just another slap on tbe wrist means that the Premier League do not really care about integrity and fair play. Do they really want to become another Bundesliga?

 

[MaMa given red]

I think they’ll get a transfer ban and they know it so they are doing as much they can in this window

A transfer ban is very unlikely.

There's no real precedent for that for breaking rules like they have.

 

[Pexbo]

I'm not reading much but City are spending big now cause they're afraid they're gonna ban them from next transfer windows?
Omar Marmoush, Reis planning to snatch Cambiaso and D. Luiz from Juventus... all now!! seems too much even if their season looks grey right now

It’s standard squad surgery for them though and they’ve been complacent recently and results have caught up.

 

[Steve Bruce]

A transfer ban is very unlikely.

There's no real precedent for that for breaking rules like they have.

Genuine question, has other clubs broke all the rules city have broke. (not necessarily 1 club breaking all the same rules but 1 club for each rule broken and if so what sanctions did they face)

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

So, still nothing?

New allegations that they advised Juma Bah to get out of his contract with Real Valladolid.

 

[Dan_F]

City are likely to avoid relegation to the championship it seems. I talked to the agent of one of the players they have just signed and he was convinced that his client will never play in the championship. Just another slap on tbe wrist means that the Premier League do not really care about integrity and fair play. Do they really want to become another Bundesliga?

So a team that lied for years about funding couldn’t possibly lie about knowing the outcome of any punishments to convince a player to join? With respect, the kid was coming from Lens. He’s exactly the kind of player who would stick around for a year in the championship if they went down.

 

[padr81]

Genuine question, has other clubs broke all the rules city have broke. (not necessarily 1 club breaking all the same rules but 1 club for each rule broken and if so what sanctions did they face)

not the biggest charges. But lots of the little ones.
Chelsea I believe got a transfer pan for poaching youth and doing whatever dodgy shit that entails. Everton and Forest got docked points for PSR but as far as I know, no one in the PL has been done for fraud or straight up cooking the books.

It seems like and I could be wrong but given what's happening City may have won on the big charges (or at least feel they have) but maybe spending so much in January cause they've went down on the kinda stuff that might see a transfer ban. We can't know for sure but that feels like the vibes going around right now. I could be wrong but that's at least how the club are behaving.

We could still go down on everything and get the boot but at least the signs coming from City are the opposite.

Its looking like a lot of the charges didn't stick and the ones that did are the kinda like the Chelsea ones where they had 150 charges in relation to 69 youth players and got a 2 window ban iirc... Interesting to note CAS also overturned many of those decision against Chelsea.

 

[GiveItToGi...nowait]

How would city know what they have and haven’t won? Are they privy to something before it’s announced?

 

[horsechoker]

How would city know what they have and haven’t won? Are they privy to something before it’s announced?

I'm hoping they're being deceived

 

[iceman_23]

How would city know what they have and haven’t won? Are they privy to something before it’s announced?

maybe they paid of some of the independent commission so are pretty sure they going to get off. if they can pay off everybody, why not the commission itself

 

[padr81]

How would city know what they have and haven’t won? Are they privy to something before it’s announced?

I'd imagine if City know the PL know. We're all just guessing here, neither might know but City are behaving like they know (which could be bravado). I have a feeling the PL might hold off on the decision being announced as long as possible so it has as little impact as possible and teams play out games as normal.

Like lets say City are guilty and getting docked 100 points, all that does is change how City play out the rest of the games, and a City side on the beach vs a City side going at it could have a huge effect on say Ipswich who we've battered twice, if we go to some other team near the bottom (lets say Leicester) and phone in a performance and drop points.

Its why the entire mess should have been sorted before the season kicked off.

 

[Top_Bins]

I'm hoping they're being deceived

Would be hilarious to get them to spend up and then send them to the national league.

 

[Alex99]

So a team that lied for years about funding couldn’t possibly lie about knowing the outcome of any punishments to convince a player to join? With respect, the kid was coming from Lens. He’s exactly the kind of player who would stick around for a year in the championship if they went down.

Yeah, I don't really understand all of this "they're definitely getting away with it" talk.

I don't think the punishment will be anywhere near as harsh as it should be (because they should be relegated into oblivion), but as you've said, them telling a player they're not going down doesn't mean it's true. Also worth noting that the wording there (which might have just been the poster) was "his client won't play in the Championship", which might just mean there's a relegation clause in his contract.

The Haaland deal is extremely odd. I don't know why people are reading into that as a sign they're off the hook. Then there's Kyle Walker, a mainstay in their team pretty much since Guardiola's arrival and regular starter still this season, suddenly announcing he wants to leave. Then, of course, their form inexplicably dropping off an absolute cliff this season.

I even think their business this window is a bit suspicious. It might just be a reaction to their form, but two of the three signings they've made (so far) are very young defenders, so it's not like they're coming in to change their current situation. They've spent over £100 million (so far), despite not really doing much at all in the summer, and when they've never really done January business under Guardiola (about the only previous example being Laporte in 2018, and Jesus in 2017). Even the other player (for £60 million) is a striker that's going to be playing second fiddle to Haaland.

 

[padr81]

Yeah, I don't really understand all of this "they're definitely getting away with it" talk.

I don't think the punishment will be anywhere near as harsh as it should be (because they should be relegated into oblivion), but as you've said, them telling a player they're not going down doesn't mean it's true. Also worth noting that the wording there (which might have just been the poster) was "his client won't play in the Championship", which might just mean there's a relegation clause in his contract.

The Haaland deal is extremely odd. I don't know why people are reading into that as a sign they're off the hook. Then there's Kyle Walker, a mainstay in their team pretty much since Guardiola's arrival and regular starter still this season, suddenly announcing he wants to leave. Then, of course, their form inexplicably dropping off an absolute cliff this season.

I even think their business this window is a bit suspicious. It might just be a reaction to their form, but two of the three signings they've made (so far) are very young defenders, so it's not like they're coming in to change their current situation. They've spent over £100 million (so far), despite not really doing much at all in the summer, and when they've never really done January business under Guardiola (about the only previous example being Laporte in 2018, and Jesus in 2017). Even the other player (for £60 million) is a striker that's going to be playing second fiddle to Haaland.

You can't think Walker wanting to leave is related to the charges. He's bee abysmal this season, his legs have gone and he knows it. he's not in the league 20 fastest players this term. He had a 2nd family, his marriage is over. He likely just wants to get away and play some football. Maybe save his marriage... It's crazy to try and tie Walker leaving in any way to the charges.

If you think Marmoush is going to be a bench warmer for Erling you haven't watched us. He's a clear replacement in the front 4 for KDB who hasn't being offered a new contract since City suspended contact talks with him in September.

 

[adexkola]

How would city know what they have and haven’t won? Are they privy to something before it’s announced?

When you're in court, you know how the case is going. Both City and the PL presented their cases and were cross-examined by the other party. If one side is being plastered, it's easy to see.

The public won't be privy to then proceedings but the parties will know.

 

[Alex99]

You can't think Walker wanting to leave is related to the charges. He's bee abysmal this season, his legs have gone and he knows it. he's not in the league 20 fastest players this term. He had a 2nd family, his marriage is over. He likely just wants to get away and play some football. Maybe save his marriage... It's crazy to try and tie Walker leaving in any way to the charges.

If you think Marmoush is going to be a bench warmer for Erling you haven't watched us. He's a clear replacement in the front 4 for KDB who hasn't being offered a new contract since City suspended contact talks with him in September.

Also perfectly normal that you'd give Haaland a massive contract until he's 35 but halt contract talks with De Bruyne.

I've not seen anything of this guy you've signed, but I'm really struggling to see how a striker is replacing De Bruyne.

 

[Dan_F]

Also perfectly normal that you'd give Haaland a massive contract until he's 35 but halt contract talks with De Bruyne.

I've not seen anything of this guy you've signed, but I'm really struggling to see how a striker is replacing De Bruyne.

Pep is going 4 4 faking 2 to prepare for the championship.

 

[noodlehair]

City are likely to avoid relegation to the championship it seems. I talked to the agent of one of the players they have just signed and he was convinced that his client will never play in the championship. Just another slap on tbe wrist means that the Premier League do not really care about integrity and fair play. Do they really want to become another Bundesliga?

I don't think they can relegate them as the Championship is not under PL rules.

They can deduct enough points to relegate them though, which I definitely think COULD happen. It depends what charges they are found guilty of. If they get off everything except the failing to co-operate/minor reporting stuff, then it could just be fines (don't see how they are getting off those ones as what possible defence would they have), but if any of the other more serious charges stick, the punishment would have to be more significant where the PL have already set the precedent with Everton/Forest. If anything other than that happens you can guarantee those two clubs will be dragging the PL back through the courts as well. Even if City are cleared of those charges that could still happen as the evidence was leaked all over the internet and wasn't particularly inconclusive.

Don't think who they sign or what contracts they give out means anything. They're not going to go around acting like they're guilty and even if they do get a massive punishment it makes sense to get players on the books before that happens. Twiddling their thumbs waiting for an outcome would be the stupidest thing they could do.

 

[noodlehair]

When you're in court, you know how the case is going. Both City and the PL presented their cases and were cross-examined by the other party. If one side is being plastered, it's easy to see.

The public won't be privy to then proceedings but the parties will know.

Its not always as simple as that, especially in litigation cases where its based on a set of one person's made up rules rather than any actual law. There's not much precedent to go on in terms of how the PL have applied the rules previously, never mind what evidence would be considered sufficient to prove those rules weren't followed. I think this is part of why it has taken so long and its hard to see how either side would have been "plastered" more than the other. City would be the ones struggling to explain their behaviour but that would only put them in a bad place on the more minor charges.

Also how a party acts doesn't always detail how sure or not they are of an outcome. Liverpool were pretty convinvced Suarez would be cleared of racism when they were fully aware he had said "I don't speak to black people" to an opposing player multiple times. United were convinced Rio would get off scot free for his missed drugs test, despite the defence basically being that he just didnt think it was important enough to go.

 

[MaMa given red]

not the biggest charges. But lots of the little ones.
Chelsea I believe got a transfer pan for poaching youth and doing whatever dodgy shit that entails. Everton and Forest got docked points for PSR but as far as I know, no one in the PL has been done for fraud or straight up cooking the books.

It seems like and I could be wrong but given what's happening City may have won on the big charges (or at least feel they have) but maybe spending so much in January cause they've went down on the kinda stuff that might see a transfer ban. We can't know for sure but that feels like the vibes going around right now. I could be wrong but that's at least how the club are behaving.

We could still go down on everything and get the boot but at least the signs coming from City are the opposite.

Its looking like a lot of the charges didn't stick and the ones that did are the kinda like the Chelsea ones where they had 150 charges in relation to 69 youth players and got a 2 window ban iirc... Interesting to note CAS also overturned many of those decision against Chelsea.

The length of the trial suggests that some of the more serious charges did stick.

At the start of it, the City based twitter accounts were all saying that it would be done and dusted within ten weeks, yet it actually went the distance.

In terms of an outcome nothing will have been decided yet. The current talk is March but even that seems quick considering the length of the trial.

City have always said that they are completely innocent and they are going to try and project that all the way through to the outcome. Even if they are found guilty of some charges they will either dismiss those charges as irrelevant or fight them using any means necessary.

I think I've said this before but City aren't going to accept anything that makes them look guilty in any way. They are owned by people that always get what they want and buy their way out of any problems.

 

[Grande]

it looks as if City are just going to speed up and show their noses at the rest of the league. €150m + wages investment in new players in a mid season window - has that ever happened before at any team in history? And giving the worlds best striker a ten year contract to boot, all while a swindle case is pending? It’s just giving the V sign isn’t it - and not the right way.

 

[bosskeano]

so they have this transfer ban court case looming yet can still go out and spend 145m this january to bring in 3 players

city just spending their way out of being absolute dogs bollocks

 

[adexkola]

Its not always as simple as that, especially in litigation cases where its based on a set of one person's made up rules rather than any actual law. There's not much precedent to go on in terms of how the PL have applied the rules previously, never mind what evidence would be considered sufficient to prove those rules weren't followed. I think this is part of why it has taken so long and its hard to see how either side would have been "plastered" more than the other. City would be the ones struggling to explain their behaviour but that would only put them in a bad place on the more minor charges.

Also how a party acts doesn't always detail how sure or not they are of an outcome. Liverpool were pretty convinvced Suarez would be cleared of racism when they were fully aware he had said "I don't speak to black people" to an opposing player multiple times. United were convinced Rio would get off scot free for his missed drugs test, despite the defence basically being that he just didnt think it was important enough to go.

It's definitely not that simple for sure (people have been blindsided in court before)

If City are confident, either they are blustering (which, why? Also, why would their players/agents buy it??), or they have seen the proceedings in court and are highly confident in their chances (which they may still be wrong on).

Time will tell for sure

 

[Posh Red]

so they have this transfer ban court case looming yet can still go out and spend 145m this january to bring in 3 players

city just spending their way out of being absolute dogs bollocks

Hmmm I’m not sure you know what ‘dogs bollocks’ means!

 

[noodlehair]

It's definitely not that simple for sure (people have been blindsided in court before)

If City are confident, either they are blustering (which, why? Also, why would their players/agents buy it??), or they have seen the proceedings in court and are highly confident in their chances (which they may still be wrong on).

Time will tell for sure

I don't think they're blustering at all. They've claimed their innocence the whole way through. Pep has promised to quit if they're guilty...which, to any reasonable persohn, they are. Nothing has changed from their end. Its always been bare faced denial.

I think its more that they are having a crap season by their standards and need to invest in the team, and it makes no sense to delay that because of an impending punishment that no one knows what it is or if it will even happen. Agents and players don't need to buy into it because even if City had the book thrown at them, the worst case from the player's point of view is a massive points deduction that will result in a relegation. In that instance the player has a contract City have to honour, and likely they'd need to sell or loan players...This also arguably makes more sense form City's point of view than not signing players to contracts in the first place just in case.

Everyone also assumes because its obvious that City cheated the rules it is obvious they can be punished, but it isn't. The rules and enforcement of them seem pretty flimsy on the face of it. This case is a good example of how/why. Why did the PL only decide to step in years down the line AFTER the evidence got put on the internet and UEFA took action? That's the bit I struggle to get past. Trying to argue that its super important to punish City, but also that it was super unimportant when it actually happened and you just randomly changed your mind later on because you don't know how to enforce your own rules properly, is a pretty weird one. Its not really that much less dumb than City's defence which can't consist of much better than "yeah we cheated but you can't punish us because we already got away with it and hid the evidence for a while".

Obviously its guess work but I would think the debate for whoever is deciding this is less are City guilty and more what do the rules reasonably and fairly allow them to be punished for? People maybe forget this whole thing is based on some rules that didn't even exist until not that long before City supposedly broke them. Its not like they have been caught fixing matches or bribing officials. The fairness and application of the rules, and the level of unfair advantage gained by breaking them, has never really been tested by an independent judgement before.

 

[padr81]

The length of the trial suggests that some of the more serious charges did stick.

At the start of it, the City based twitter accounts were all saying that it would be done and dusted within ten weeks, yet it actually went the distance.

In terms of an outcome nothing will have been decided yet. The current talk is March but even that seems quick considering the length of the trial.

City have always said that they are completely innocent and they are going to try and project that all the way through to the outcome. Even if they are found guilty of some charges they will either dismiss those charges as irrelevant or fight them using any means necessary.

I think I've said this before but City aren't going to accept anything that makes them look guilty in any way. They are owned by people that always get what they want and buy their way out of any problems.

City based twitter accounts are idiots for the most part like all twitter accounts, everyone literally said it'd be a long drawn out process which it was. Now we may get the book thrown at us and deservedly so, but the club aren't behaving at all like they're expecting too.

 

[padr81]

Also perfectly normal that you'd give Haaland a massive contract until he's 35 but halt contract talks with De Bruyne.

I've not seen anything of this guy you've signed, but I'm really struggling to see how a striker is replacing De Bruyne.

Because he can play from the wing or as a 10 or even like KDB recently a 9.5.

 

[Alex99]

Because he can play from the wing or as a 10 or even like KDB recently a 9.5.

Yeah, I don't buy that. He doesn't appear to be a remotely similar player, from what I've read this afternoon.

Him being able to play in a few positions just means he'll end up out wide while Haaland plays through the middle.

 

[Alex99]

City based twitter accounts are idiots for the most part like all twitter accounts, everyone literally said it'd be a long drawn out process which it was. Now we may get the book thrown at us and deservedly so, but the club aren't behaving at all like they're expecting too.

Again, perfectly normal behavior to dish out a near 10 year contract and spend over £100 million in the January window.

You do that all the time

 

[Sandikan]

City are likely to avoid relegation to the championship it seems. I talked to the agent of one of the players they have just signed and he was convinced that his client will never play in the championship. Just another slap on tbe wrist means that the Premier League do not really care about integrity and fair play. Do they really want to become another Bundesliga?

Do you think City would say
"yeah to be honest mate, we're worried we're going to be utterly annihilated by this judgement and not be competitive for nuff years....ps do you still want to sign?"

 

[Sandikan]

so they have this transfer ban court case looming yet can still go out and spend 145m this january to bring in 3 players

city just spending their way out of being absolute dogs bollocks

I think you need to get your animal genitalia references sorted out.

dog's bollocks = good
donkey balls = bad

 

[MaMa given red]

City are likely to avoid relegation to the championship it seems. I talked to the agent of one of the players they have just signed and he was convinced that his client will never play in the championship. Just another slap on tbe wrist means that the Premier League do not really care about integrity and fair play. Do they really want to become another Bundesliga?

The funny thing is that ultimately all this will do is open the door for Newcastle to dominate as if City don't get punished they will stop trying to play by the rules and become a Saudi Pro team but in the Premier League.

 

[MaMa given red]

City based twitter accounts are idiots for the most part like all twitter accounts, everyone literally said it'd be a long drawn out process which it was. Now we may get the book thrown at us and deservedly so, but the club aren't behaving at all like they're expecting too.

Because your owners don't/won't ever behave that way. They don't lose, they don't accept no for an answer. They would still claim they were completely innocent even if they were found guilty of all charges and they will do whatever is necessary to be completely acquitted.

Look in to the history of Sheikh Mansour and his family. They aren't going to allow the Premier League to do anything that damages them.

 

[RoyH1]

They still manage to be making a ton of money despite the scrutiny on their financial doings. I suppose the value of some their commercial deals will always be under question.

https://www.deloitte.com/uk/en/serv.../analysis/deloitte-football-money-league.html

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...all-club-to-generate-more-than-1bn-in-revenue

 

[Torky]

There guilty as feck, all this signing players is distraction from their guilty as shit shenanigans...classic deception techniques. They'll still deny even after their found guilty. One year in the Championship isn't really gona affect them to much anyway, will be straight back up like nothing happened

 

[padr81]

Yeah, I don't buy that. He doesn't appear to be a remotely similar player, from what I've read this afternoon.

Him being able to play in a few positions just means he'll end up out wide while Haaland plays through the middle.

He doesn't have to be a similar player. I dunno why people think you have to replace X with X. Pep replaced Fernandinho with Rodri, two complete opposites as a 6. He just has to be able to play in position X on the pitch.

 

[padr81]

Again, perfectly normal behavior to dish out a near 10 year contract and spend over £100 million in the January window.

You do that all the time

I mean if you read my posts I literally say its not normal behaviour and looks like we're rushing ahead against a potential transfer ban. It's literally right there in my posts on this page, but hey whatever floats your boat whilst being completely wrong about both Walker and Marmoush... Have at it.