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lurka
25 Sep 26 15:04
Joined:
Date Joined: 25 Oct 10
| Topic/replies: 20,924 | Blogger: lurka's blog
of 'virtually all charges' according to Ornstein/NY Times. Sanction undecided, process ongoing. Will likely appeal
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Report liberator of the oppressed • September 30, 2026 12:48 PM BST
Not sure if this has been covered apologies if it has. Worst case scenario points deduction what happens if you have backed them to win something example as I have top NW club which they clearly will if no points deducted and doesn't this bring other trades for example outright premiership into question you could argue relegation same time given the connection to points less? I'm confused think that I done the lolly which seems a bit unfair sure will be something in small print when I put the bets on didn't seen anything bets might be subject to rulings etc like R4 for the horses.
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • September 30, 2026 1:08 PM BST
Chelsea were forced to sell club.

The new owners discovered the cheating and reported it.

Man city cheated, and lied about cheating.

If the club is sold, then maybe the new owners will discover more cheating in the
years following the period covered by the emails.

The lack of compliance with epl is a major issue.

9 fixtures a week rather than 10 is hardly
a major issue for broadcasters and players
get a couple of games rest.

Citeh can continue to cheat in Europe unless
Madrid get them kicked out.
Report impossible123 • September 30, 2026 1:36 PM BST
Man City will need to be expelled from the Premier League. This is an absolute must to send a n-nonsense message to any other club in the future. There are many English clubs with foreign owners some of whom are from countries with little or no governance on finance or ethics and fair play.

And, the present owners of Man City should be banned from owning any English club for at least 10 years. Deliberate and wanton cheating must not be part of English Football.
Report penzance • September 30, 2026 1:39 PM BST
Back 'em for TOP N/W team & they are deducted points this season you lose the bet
if they finish lower than the other teams involved.Same with all bets, Relegation
as well as League Wnrs.All settled on their final League position, after deductions.
Report swiftynifty • September 30, 2026 1:40 PM BST
West Ham's aggregate record against the cheats since 2009 is about the worst between any 2 clubs in recent history. I wonder where West Ham would be now?!
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • September 30, 2026 2:15 PM BST
If they are expelled they are not relegated

But who nose how betfair and otter bookies settle, arbing is a brave man's game
Report stu • September 30, 2026 2:21 PM BST
From purely betting perspective, surely 6.6 is a lay in the winners market currently?

Don't see how they will be allowed to win the league this year??
Report 1st time poster • September 30, 2026 2:47 PM BST
if fans think city,s titles are tainted assterixed, any team winning the title going forward without cityin ther lg will alo  be tainted,dont see any good new in thi for the EPL, any firessale of players who want to tay in EPL and are game changers,arsenal will get 1st refusal , and only city currently look like even pushing arsenal,uncompetitive lg with VAR, not a good sell for EPL
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • September 30, 2026 2:49 PM BST
They cheated, removing cheats doesn't taint future champions.
Report kincsem • September 30, 2026 4:23 PM BST
Man City players should have to wear ankle tags. Devil
Report duffy • September 30, 2026 5:43 PM BST
rothko 30 Sep 26 11:17 

The city owners are not used to people standing up to them and are effectively kings in their own country and because they never lose, hence their mindset of doubling down

whatever happens it will be messy


This is at the heart of their continued denial, it's not so much them denying the charges it's more o them saying, so what, we an do what we like, isn't that what they said in one of those leaked e-mails, "We can do what we like", I hope the judges were all women, just to add insult to injury to themMischief
Report lurka • September 30, 2026 5:53 PM BST
It's got to do with honour as well, which is everything where they come from. Being labeled dishonest, a cheat/liar/fraudster is a black mark on your family or any other group you are a part of. May even have consequences for them as it's the ruler they bring shame on.
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • September 30, 2026 5:57 PM BST
If they are worried about honour they
shouldn't have cheated. Quite simple.

Their refusal to accept they are cheats
will only make the punishment worse.
Report Stringvest • September 30, 2026 6:05 PM BST
F I L T H
Report stu • September 30, 2026 6:06 PM BST
Anyone else a layer for the title win today? (today laying, not title win..)
Report liberator of the oppressed • September 30, 2026 6:39 PM BST
Was it Nandy on the telly the other night wanting decisive action what a girl she knows what a thinker.
Report impossible123 • September 30, 2026 8:38 PM BST
A points deduction is no penalty for a cheat of this magnitude. A demotion to the EFL Championship at the very least is necessary. In addition an imposition of a ban of 3 years from playing in the Champions League. A financial penalty of £500m 0r £1bn is no penalty to the owner.

The other option is an enforced change of ownership excluding any future purchase of Man City by a relative or business associate of Mr Mansour.

Que the wealthy Chinese. Any super-rich Chinese will want to buy Man City. Buying Man City means kudos and respect.
Report maleuk01. • September 30, 2026 9:16 PM BST
If Mancini got paid more for 4 days "consultancy" work than his actual Man City contract from the same sources, then if this is paid earnings from Abu Dhabi, then also prob no tax paid on it either, for work really undertaken in the UK.

Is that not also tax evasion as well as fraud?

I wonder how many players, managers had these double contracts? Could they all not face criminal proceedings for tax evasion if tax wasn't paid in the UK on those earnings?
Report rothko • September 30, 2026 10:22 PM BST
They can’t be banned from the champions league a totally different jurisdiction
The doubling down from Cheaty is something to behold
Apparently they still have irrefutable evidence that they decided not to present to the hearing
but held it back for an appeal ffs the cheaty fans are being gaslit
Report SirNorbertClarke • September 30, 2026 10:32 PM BST
PL appeal can't include new evidence.
Report duffy • October 1, 2026 5:43 AM BST
Andy Burnham making his position clear, more worried about trade deals than the integrity of football, if you've got lots of money and are important you should be treated leniently seems to be his stance.

For the first time today I've started to entertain the possibility that they get off lightly, Burnham has contributed to this.
Report 1st time poster • October 1, 2026 8:36 AM BST
this is why pts deductions dont work, their working out a deduction for man city which would relegate the,but those pts wrould be different for every club,like everton getting 10 but 6 suspended to almost certainly knowingly not giving them enough to relegate them,
should the difference betweenchelsea holding their hands up be one staying in EPL and one playing non lg,lg 2 or even folding ?
putin invading ukr saved chelsea from been in the same position
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • October 1, 2026 10:14 AM BST
But the Chelsea sale was forced.

New buyers paid all of that cash, hadn't cheated, and were sold a club where they discovered widescale cheating, which they declared.

Maybe that was a condition of the sale, that
reporting what they found would result in them being in same place, or else it's possible nobody would have taken on the club at anywhere near that price.

How much were Citeh worth 2 months ago, compared to what they would fetch today without an epl promise...

Not saying Chelsea treatment was fair, it
wasn't, they should have been downscaled to where they would have been without Russian doping above what was actually permissible.

Seems like that ship has sailed.

Citeh should have looked for similar deal, fessed up, said it's stopped, opened books, took the points and fines, and cracked on.

Threatening to withdraw all UK investments because they've been caught bang to rights seems a bizarre way to go on. Especially if
the doping may have continued in the years after those covered by the emails.
Report rothko • October 1, 2026 10:20 AM BST
the everton and forest cases are not comparable to this - they were minor breaches of the financial rules
They cant be used to try and gauge what the points deduction for cheaty might be as this is unprecedented with no comparable case

Whilst its an independent panel that will determine the sanction i think but am not 100 per cent sure that the other EPL clubs need to still vote on expulsion with 15 needed to vote for expulsion
Report stu • October 1, 2026 11:41 AM BST
Size of points deduction should be based on severity of crime surely - that's why this one should be BIG.
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • October 1, 2026 12:02 PM BST
Punishment should fit the crime.

There is no points deduction that fits this
mass cheating over many years.

The previous poi ts deductions were simple overspends not mass cheating events.

Overspends can be penalised as they happen

Hidden cheating can not, and retrospective punishment can fit crime.

There isn't even any evidence the cheating ever stopped.
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • October 1, 2026 12:44 PM BST
https://taxpolicy.org.uk/2026/10/01/manchester-city-unpaid-tax/

..

Thats another line...
Report ImSoLuckyLucky! • October 1, 2026 12:54 PM BST
Just saw it
£12 million in UNPAID TAXES

Mancini a tax CHEAT
Shocked
Report penzance • October 1, 2026 1:26 PM BST
If what they've done is right, don't see City being in the Prem when punishment is dished out.
Thrown out or a big  Points deduction which leaves them in an impossible position to stay in it
for that season.
Report Storm Alert • October 1, 2026 2:08 PM BST
Mancini / Dettori. Seems to a trait...
Report freddiewilliams • October 1, 2026 3:24 PM BST
6.6 to win premier.....2.7 to be relegated
Report barstool • October 1, 2026 3:32 PM BST
They should drop into League 2 and start on -50 points.

Make it hard labour to get back.
Report stu • October 1, 2026 3:56 PM BST
I don't get their win price freddie - even if not relegated, they are almost certs to be penalised to stop them winning it. Should be 50s IMO for the title.
Report ImSoLuckyLucky! • October 1, 2026 3:59 PM BST
If you feel there is a FRAUD
Call Police ACTION FRAUD LINE
If 5 million fans ring up
The authorites may get the MESSAGE
Devil
Report MrStrawMan • October 1, 2026 5:00 PM BST
I know everyone has different opinions , but i think whatever the other punishments the titles should be removed , there has to be a detterent to stop other clubs , today fines are pretty much irrelevant , even relegation to the championship will just be 1 season , other clubs could think , we can win lots of trophies and just spend 1 season in the championship and think its worth it .
Report duffy • October 1, 2026 5:01 PM BST
stu 01 Oct 26 15:56 
I don't get their win price freddie - even if not relegated, they are almost certs to be penalised to stop them winning it. Should be 50s IMO for the title.


Yes, but will it be this season?
Report MALAY • October 1, 2026 5:12 PM BST
The owner apparently says he knew nothing about this stuff reminds me of sheik in Newmarket one guy took flak and got new employment in organisation.
Guilty no doubts and should face stiff punishment. Whatever is possible.
Bankrolling clubs outwith income coming in never ends well at any level in fitba.
Report ImSoLuckyLucky! • October 1, 2026 5:19 PM BST
The missing money was from the ab dbai
GOVERNMENT

The panel REJECTED this premise
Laugh
Report stu • October 1, 2026 5:36 PM BST
Very likely Duffy - the other clubs are pointing to the regs stating about not making undue delays, which apparently are in the guidelines too.
Report duffy • October 1, 2026 5:52 PM BST
Absolutely I agree, but the market is believing that it's nowhere near a done deal for this season and/or they get let off lightly, either way it should stop them winning the league but they should be 1.01 to be relegated and yet you can bet them at 13/8...WHY?
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • October 1, 2026 6:00 PM BST
If they get booted they are not relegated
Report tobermory • October 1, 2026 6:17 PM BST
"Bobby in the shower" worked out for Dallas.

I've no idea what this is or what this means


In the early 1980s Dallas was the biggest show on TV. Worldwide. At the end of season 7 (?) one of the most popular characters, Bobby Ewing, was killed off. Season 8 proceeded with no Bobby and the ratings dipped somewhat. The executives figured it was because Bobby's fans stopped watching and that they needed to bring him back. But he was dead. So they just decided the end of season 7 and the whole of season 8 had been a dream Bobby's wife had. Season 9 opened with her finding Bobby in the shower and realizing that all the drama of the previous year had not happened.

But the fans of the show felt why had they wasted time watching season 8?, and maybe season 9 would turn out to be a dream too. The show declined and fell out of the top 50 in the ratings.

If City's titles are taking away then all the drama of the Aguero goal, Gerrard's slip etc becomes meaningless. No point showing clips of them anymore. A big chunk of PL history is just void.

Fans effectively told they wasted their time and money watching it all. But be sure to pay and watch the games this season!. Because they really will determine the ultimate champions! (unless they don't because it gets voided in a few years)

Awarding titles to beaten teams years later is ridiculous. Would Man United have a 2018 trophy presentation? Phil Jones and Fellaini coming back for the lap of honour... Mourinho throwing his medal in the crowd Laugh
Report tobermory • October 1, 2026 6:21 PM BST
Serie A had been overtaken by the premier league and la liga by 2006, yes. But it was still a close up third .

After they took the titles away from Juve interest plummeted and it has never got back to that level. Serie A lost it's UK TV deal which it had since the early 90s.
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • October 1, 2026 6:23 PM BST
It's void anyway because they cheated.

Ben Johnson and Lance Armstrong went down
differing dq routes but ended up in same
shower as Citeh.

People counting trophies is like watching j r get shot, on loop, it happened or maybe it
was a dream,

Pep in danger of losing a few Barce trophies too, could end up distinctly average.
Report impossible123 • October 1, 2026 6:57 PM BST
If the owner did not know where the colossal amount of money came to facilitate the numerous player transfers to help win trophies the Pope is a Muslim! Only a moron or a deceitful, dishonest and unfit owner did not know.

The longer Man City dug their heels in, claimed ignorance or did not agree with the verdict - all allegations were proven - the more severe the penalty. If the owner kept insisting he did not know then the owner is an unfit person to own a football club in England. Perhaps UEFA would take an interest.

I hope Man City is stripped of all their titles in England and Europe. A cheating entity cannot and must not benefit from their deliberate, deceitful and unsporting actions and behaviour. As for the sponsors of Man City I hope most, if not all, would request for their sponsorship monies back otherwise for not wanting to be seen to be complicit and condone the fraudulent actions of Man City.
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • October 2, 2026 12:23 PM BST
Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026 the Club lodged its comprehensive Appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter.

The Club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.

The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.

We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete”.
Report Stringvest • October 2, 2026 12:37 PM BST
If only you was so disgusted about the. FILTHY Grooming Rapist Gangs operating all across the Uk..but no . you carry on about a poxy football club owned by FILTH
Report SirNorbertClarke • October 2, 2026 12:47 PM BST
Will the City fans turn on the club's leadership?
Report stu • October 2, 2026 12:49 PM BST
you-have-to-laugh---01 Oct 26 18:00

If they get booted they are not relegated


That's a danger for backing relegation, but not for laying the title win. Duffy's point is only danger for title layers, but it's less likely due to rules that state there should be limited delay in sanctions, hence almost certainly this season.

For a start, can anyone imagine them wanting to see City win the league and parade around with it this year???
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • October 2, 2026 12:53 PM BST
Yeah, second guessing outcomes that may be known elsewhere before we find out isn't always a good move.

The players have looked a bit out of it on international break.
Report stu • October 2, 2026 12:55 PM BST
Title layers have it both ways, like you suggest - they can win due to sanctions (very likely) but City could also underperform and lose it that way too!
Report Poppydog. • October 2, 2026 12:58 PM BST
Look at these, going back 10 years - probably forgotten by many now 

The Lampard loan deal

There has been much discussion in recent weeks regarding the loan of ex-Chelsea talisman, Frank Lampard, from New York City FC (New York FC) to Manchester City FC (Man City).

The fact that New York FC’s majority shareholder is City Football Group, a holding company established to hold shares in the growing number of overseas clubs affiliated with Man City, has led a number of figures within the game - most prominently, current Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger - to question whether the transaction complies with, or is designed to subvert, the UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations (“FFP Regulations”).1 

Earlier this month, Wenger queried whether the move was designed to “get round” the FFP Regulation.2 Since his comments, Man City have been quick to point out that they will be paying Lampard’s wages themselves during his loan spell and there is nothing underhand about the transaction.

Below we will briefly recount the current status of Man City’s compliance with the FFP Regulations before examining whether Wenger is right to draw attention to the Lampard transaction as potentially subverting the Regulations.

It is worth noting at the outset that, as a standalone transaction, the Lampard deal does not breach the FFP Regulations per se. However, potentially there is scope for UEFA to view the deal as a “related party transaction” (explained below). The rules related to related party transactions empower UEFA to adjust the value of the deal when assessing City’s future “break-even” calculations (explained here3).

Report Poppydog. • October 2, 2026 12:58 PM BST
Settlement with UEFA 


Earlier this year, Man City entered into a settlement agreement with UEFA whereby it was agreed that the reigning Premier League champions would pay a conditional £49m fine and accept the imposition of certain restrictions on their European squad and incoming transfers.

A statement made on the club website referred to a “fundamental disagreement between the club’s and UEFA’s respective interpretations of the FFP Regulations on players purchased before 2010." 4  The club maintained that the regulations had been complied with; UEFA clearly thought differently.5

The settlement agreement stipulates a number of sanctions and restrictions, the key ones being as follows6:

"Man City will lose €10m of its share of income from UEFA for competing in the Champions League for season 2014-15;
Rather than having a cumulative allowance of €30m of losses over the next two reporting years (like all other clubs), Man City will have specific stipulated allowances for 2013-14 and 2014-15 of €20m and €10m respectively;
Man City’s European squad for the 2014-15 competition will be limited to 21 players of which five must be ‘home-grown’ 7;
The club’s expenditure on new players for the transfer window which has just closed, on top of income from players it sold, was limited to €60m; and
The wage bill of the whole club (playing and non-playing staff) for the 2014-15 season must not exceed the level of the 2013-14 season (although additional bonuses for performances can be paid outside this number)."
If Man City complies with the restrictions contained in the settlement agreement, the constraints will be lifted at the end of 2015-16 season.
Report lurka • October 2, 2026 1:48 PM BST
Paul Gilroy KC on the Stick to Football podcast said that City could drag this out for up to 5 years potentially. I haven't heard anyone else suggest it could be that long, but he said there may be another potential arbitration for City under PL Rules Section X, then potentially a High Court appeal and even a challenge to the rules under Competition Law.

He said they will be heavily restricted on what they can appeal on and unlikely to be successful. I'd say they know this and dragging it out is their real goal, perhaps with a view to getting a political solution but they'd prob want to get one before the sanctions hearing is concluded. He thinks they will be relegated via points deduction and that they could also impose a second points deduction in the season they come back up.
Report lurka • October 2, 2026 1:53 PM BST
He said that if the sanction is decided and City continue to appeal again and again, how can you execute the sanction if in 3-5 years it turns out that you were wrong (however unlikely that may be)? You have to hold off.

He also suggested that the player contracts could be voidable by the players on the basis that City have breached the implied term of trust and confidence in every employment contract. Practically, I can't see players doing this as City would again sue and what club is going to take them if they do that?
Report ImSoLuckyLucky! • October 2, 2026 1:59 PM BST
Seems the WHISTLEBLOWE is gonna issue more emails at 6.00
Not sure if its Citeh case?
Laugh
Report Kardman • October 2, 2026 3:32 PM BST
15/4 with Denise & Uni for City to win the league, 5.8 on here.

If any points deduction can’t be applied while an appeal is in progress, as per Gilroy KC, then I can City, their fans & the owners being well up for this.

“Us against the world.”

What a brilliant piss take that would be next May when Richard Masters at PL is forced to hand over trophy to City.

I’m far from being a City fan but that seems a very tempting bet to me.
Report duffy • October 2, 2026 3:53 PM BST
It's clear what City's tactics now are, they are basically taking the Keane approach and standing there with that withering mouth and eyeballs narrowed that Ferguson used to speak of, a scorched earth policy in a bid to frighten the opposition into submission, failing that, an attempt to drag it on as long as possible in a bid to beat the opposition into submission knowing the damage that is being done to the EPL.

What they don't seem to care about is that the EPL is going to have an ever growing number of fans available to it at every away ground the team travels to making life very uncomfortable for the players, of course City's owners may well see this as something that helps their cause as the product is sullied with every passing week.

They are attempting a beat down.
Report stu • October 2, 2026 4:11 PM BST
I could easily see their form dipping way below champions level, despite anything else.

It is hardly going to help them keep motivation, cohesion, organisation among the team and players is it?
Report stu • October 2, 2026 4:12 PM BST
They might be playing for different clubs after being sold half of them...
Report lurka • October 2, 2026 4:22 PM BST
They remind me of Liverpool last season after 5 games, winning but not playing very well and not looking solid. With all of this I can see them going thru a worse decline than Liverpool last year. It's not going to galvanise the players as they'll all be wondering about their futures and the ones signed this summer will feel duped. Every away game is going to be a bit of a nightmare for them too.
Report duffy • October 2, 2026 4:24 PM BST
City are attempting to outlast the opposition, they know that the voracity with which the reaction to it is at the moment will lessen with every passing week, just like it did after the initial charges were brought, yes it's different now because we've had the verdict but the reaction we've had to it will taper off as the weeks, months and maybe years pass and then one day down the line a deal of some kind will be done perhaps with City maintaining their innocence but prepared to accept a punishment "of sorts" for the good of the league.

That's the worst case scenario but a very possible one IMO, that's the way it feels like it's going but I hope the EPL stand firm.
Report duffy • October 2, 2026 4:28 PM BST
One thing that has just occurred to me is if this does go on for a few years it will itself serve as a de facto transfer ban as it must make it harder to attract new players now.
Report GoBallistic • October 2, 2026 5:00 PM BST
I'm sure a City backer would argue that any manager in the position of the City manager will be pushing a siege mentality in the dressing room. "Us against the world". Could work. Anyway "Super Sunday" might live up to the hype for once.
Report duffy • October 2, 2026 5:08 PM BST
I don't think the situation will have a negative effect on the players, I don't think the existing players will care less about it, the atmosphere created by the Liverpool fans might though.
Report SirNorbertClarke • October 2, 2026 5:11 PM BST
Remember Blatter's shower of dollars Laugh
Report Storm Alert • October 2, 2026 5:45 PM BST
It won't go on for years. See my earlier posts. Final verdict by end of Jan 27?

Man City cannot sue the Premier League in the High Court and if they try on a technicality its hard believe PL will want Man City to remain in their league. Will get slung out for good (nap).
Report tobermory • October 2, 2026 6:03 PM BST
It was said when this leaked that the punishment would be announced before the appeal
Report impossible123 • October 2, 2026 6:39 PM BST
The verdict was so emphatic ie guilty on all counts. The latest excuse eg the disputed funds were from the State was dubious and convenient given the relationship and association of Man City owner and the State.

I think a punishment eg suspension, expulsion or points deduction ought to have accompanied the emphatic verdict. This will mean either 'cheater' Man City will continue to play in the PL or not.

Then it's up to 'cheater' Man City which punishment to choose or voluntarily abstain from the PL. Whichever will be before 'cheater' Man City lodges an appeal.
Report impossible123 • October 2, 2026 6:45 PM BST
A criminal convicted unanimously by a huge majority is sent down immediately. Any appeal will be entertained later. The crime should be punished 1st.

This Man City case is cut-and-shut. I hope the owner is barred from owning another English football club for life.
Report lurka • October 2, 2026 6:51 PM BST
They can sue in the High Court but they'd have to establish a catastrophic wrong by the panel like a fundamental misapprehension of the facts or misapplication of the law, a very high bar and would prob have to establish a stateable case to get leave to appeal but winning the case may not be the goal, just getting it into court and delaying another couple of years. The type of case nobody in their right mind would take/fund except a state backed club.

In 2015, Etihad officials gave evidence in the US that all their funding, incl sponsorship of Man City, came from their own funds and not the government in a probe into whether they received state-aid and distorted competition in the airline market.
Report impossible123 • October 2, 2026 7:02 PM BST
Indeed. Man City is trying to be 'creative' in their excuses, but it will be futile. Just accept the verdict and accept the punishment.

It's like buying an iconic building or company eg Harrods. Did the rapist Al-Fayed not have to prove to the Court it was his own money and not someone else's eg Sultan Of Brunei that bought Harrods?
Report lurka • October 2, 2026 7:04 PM BST
The 'important announcement' at 7PM by the Whistleblower, Rui Pinto, is that he has set up a go fund me page in response to Portugal removing his witness protection status from 10 October.
Report lurka • October 2, 2026 7:18 PM BST
Etihad is state-owned. In 2015 they told the US authorities that they don't receive subsidies from the Abu Dhabi government but they are financed thru a combination of equity (ie sales of shares to the government), shareholder loans (ie repayable loans from the government) and commercial loans.

So they will basically argue that they get funding from the government but it is not state-aid or subsidies, it's in return for shares or else repaid as a loan, and once the money is received it becomes Etihad's money and then they fund the Man City sponsorship etc and it's from their funds. A bit semantic imo.
Report impossible123 • October 2, 2026 7:57 PM BST
Maybe I'd pop over and give a fiver. I think some people with unearned mega money could allow their ego to run amok eg Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate.
Report lurka • October 2, 2026 8:07 PM BST
Had a quick look at the PL Redacted Decision document and City made a similar argument about funding of sponsors coming from the government to the sponsor and then from the sponsor to City.

The PL rejected this and said that the funds were for the exact amounts the sponsors were short and that the funding hadn't come from the government but from the owner (ADUG). It gives its reasoning for this finding in the appendices (which none of us have seen). The PL went on to find that this was an explanation that City had 'concocted' well after the event (they used this excuse for funding going all the way back to the 09/10 season).

We haven't seen any of the evidence on which conclusions are based because they haven't been released. We've only been able to draw conclusions from the scathing nature of the commission's findings and their apparent experience and expertise, ie that surely they couldn't have got it so wrong and must have very solid evidence.

What is strange is how they've managed to conclude that ADUG (ie City's owners not directly linked to the government) gave the funding (either to City directly or to the sponsors to send on to City), whilst City said the funding came from government to sponsor to City (like the told the US authorities). Surely there are bank transfer records or surely the PL would need them to draw such a conclusion re ADUG?
Report Storm Alert • October 3, 2026 8:29 AM BST
Oh we knowingly found ways of circumnavigating the FFP rules using state money. Disguising a funding scheme, what a ridiculous reason for an appeal...
Report SirNorbertClarke • October 3, 2026 8:43 AM BST
This is all about the sheikh's face now.
Report Platini • October 3, 2026 9:02 AM BST
Cheatyhaad can do one. They obv think they can intimidate the league into bending over the same way successive governments have for the last 15 years.
Report 1st time poster • October 3, 2026 10:41 AM BST
city,s final throw of the dice when everything else has failed,will be proportionality compared to punishment handed down to chelsea
Report rothko • October 3, 2026 10:46 AM BST
see the state are trying to put pressure on the govt by threatening to pull billions of investment from the UK
and the sponsors threatening to sue the PL

I hope when the  appeal loses the other affected clubs sue them for every penny

These bullies shouldnt have passed the fit and proper owners test
Report MrStrawMan • October 3, 2026 11:24 AM BST
The Premier League and the Government simply dont want to lose the Arab money , i expect the premier league want to give as small as punishement as they can get away with .
Report lurka • October 3, 2026 11:50 AM BST
The panel should release all the appendices to the decision so that people can see their evidence and reasoning ASAP. They can do this without delay. City's evidence for their appeal is in there and if the case against them is that strong it will put more pressure on them if people can assess it.
Report SirNorbertClarke • October 3, 2026 11:57 AM BST
It will suit Westminster If this gets kicked into the long grass.
Report ashbourne • October 3, 2026 11:58 AM BST
'The Premier League and the Government simply dont want to lose the Arab money , i expect the premier league want to give as small as punishement as they can get away with '

Seems likely. They won't be winning the league this season, but won't be going down either.
Report JML • October 3, 2026 12:29 PM BST
The premier league have little choice.

Soft punishment and no change of ownership will seriously damage the product.
Report Platini • October 3, 2026 12:29 PM BST
smash the gangs, and kick it into the long grass
Report rothko • October 3, 2026 12:31 PM BST
Manchester City’s chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has held UK diplomatic immunity since 2020, a status that shields him from criminal prosecution and most civil actions in Britain, according to multiple reports including the Financial Times and The Independent

so the club are separate from the state are they
Report DIE LINKE • October 3, 2026 12:57 PM BST
As Norman Stanley Fletcher said in Porridge: "We can tell the A-rabs to stuff it and can we please buy London back?"
Report lurka • October 3, 2026 1:07 PM BST
If they didn't want to 'lose the Arab money' they wouldn't have gone after them in the first place on as many charges or found them guilty of virtually every charge. The decision is unprecedented in terms of the scale and nature of the fraud and it calls for an unprecedented sanction.

The owners are an existential threat to the PL as we know it. The other owners likely want them gone, esp the American owners who control 11 clubs. I'd say they'd like to get that up to 14.
Report kincsem • October 3, 2026 2:34 PM BST
thelatarps - Until then City, as has been the history in this country in all legal cases since time immemorial (ie King Richard the Lionheart's reign for the unitiated), are innocent until proven guilty.

BBC Sport - Man City confirm appeal against guilty verdict

LaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaugh
Report impossible123 • October 3, 2026 7:34 PM BST
Id it true one of a close associate of the 'cheater' is threatening to withdraw £bn from the UK.
If proven true impose a fine on Man City the equivalent of the market value of the club. Then bar the owner from ever becoming an owner in any sport in the UK.
Report lurka • October 3, 2026 8:33 PM BST
Another important factor and one which will influence an expulsion vote or whether the panel even recommend one - City owe about £200m in transfer debt to other PL clubs. Chelsea, Forest, Everton, Bournemouth being the main ones.

Unlikely that expulsion happens, so the panel should give them a points deduction to ensure one relegation and given what's gone on the last few days I think it's more important that they somehow get rid of these owners than it is to punish the club harshly.
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • October 3, 2026 8:46 PM BST
They have assets over £200m so surely
not a problem there.
Report PeteTheBloke • October 3, 2026 8:57 PM BST
Betfair have just confirmed to me that they will settle 3 relegated teams even if City are kicked out.
City will be settled as a non-runner. This is regardless of whether 4 teams are promoted or 3.
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • October 3, 2026 9:33 PM BST
I'd take customer services as a pinch of salt.

Good luck if you act on what they tell you.

They have these conditions on the actual market, so these should form basis of your bets.

..



Rules
to be placed

Which teams will be relegated this season?
If a team is relegated from a league because, at the end of a season, it has finished within the relegation positions which are relevant to that league (i.e. usually any of the bottom three league positions), bets on that team to be relegated will be settled as winning bets.

If a team is otherwise disqualified, thrown out or removed from a league (i.e. in circumstances other than those where it has finished the season within the relevant relegation positions): (i) if such team is disqualified, thrown out or removed from the league before the relevant season has started, all bets on the affected market will be void (and a new market will subsequently be loaded) and (ii) if such team is disqualified, thrown out or removed from the league after the relevant season has started (or a determination is made by the applicable governing body, during the season, that the team will be thrown out or removed from the league following the season’s conclusion), all bets on the affected team will be void.

For the avoidance of doubt, if a points deduction is imposed on a team such that it finishes the season within the relegation places which are relevant to the applicable league, bets on that team to be relegated will be settled as winning bets.For further information please see Rules & Regs
Report DIE LINKE • October 3, 2026 9:36 PM BST
Fair play to Chastity on the Sat evening shift being so well-versed on the rules. Last week she thought a query about Leeds involved greyhounds!
Report PeteTheBloke • October 3, 2026 9:37 PM BST
I agree it's best to be cautious. The CS people are not exactly knowledgeable, but have you any evidence of BF
settling in contradiction of what you've had in writing from their people?
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- • October 3, 2026 10:09 PM BST
Well they have to void bets on Citeh if they are booted during this season as its their rules which we are betting on.

If you phone, or live chat betfair monkeys then you take their advice with a pinch of salt, and here they are telling you something that contradicts their own rules.



if such team is disqualified, thrown out or removed from the league after the relevant season has started (or a determination is made by the applicable governing body, during the season, that the team will be thrown out or removed from the league following the season’s conclusion), all bets on the affected team will be void.
Report lurka • October 4, 2026 12:13 AM BST

Oct 3, 2026 -- 8:46PM, ----you-have-to-laugh--- wrote:


They have assets over £200m so surelynot a problem there.


Not the point, those teams owed are unlikely to vote for expulsion and 15 votes would be needed

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