Redacted freedom of information documents show Abu Dhabi hosted UK government officials including Lord Stockwood, then investment minister, as recently as February. Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the City chairman and trusted adviser to the UAE president, was present at the meeting and investments in Manchester were discussed. More detail in news from yesterday
https://t.co/NliV7sDFQO
For those thinking Man City will get a lenient punishment like Chelsea did, that simply won’t be the case.
The PL convinced an IC Panel that Chelsea (a) did not gain any Sporting Advantage, (b) they were no longer owned/run by the perpetrators, and (c) they were very compliant (even self-reporting).
Man City’s case is the opposite of those 3 factors.
1) They gained a monstrous sporting advantage. Hundreds upon hundreds of millions over PSR limits.
2) They are still owned / run by the people that did it.
3) They have gone to extreme lengths to avoid justice. They hid it all (only an email hack caught them - the rules could not).
They refused to comply with the investigation.
They committed perjury at CAS.
I’ll do a fuller post later tonight but the reality is the punishments will be as serious as they come.
My pinned post says it all.
I remember asking assistant coach Mo Cheeks, what’s harder to do? Workout after practice or before?? I only asked cuz by time I would get to the gym, Russ was already done in the morning and I usually got mine in after practice. Mo like, “coming in before practice is probably harder”…since then, it’s been my routine….a lot of people looked at the emotions on the court and thought Russ was loud, nah to me, he was quiet and methodical. He lead by example and once the lights were bright, he let everything out and experienced pure freedom. It was inspiring as his teammate and everywhere I went, I seen it inspire people from all walks of life, crazy thing is, he didn’t say much, he just showed up. For 18 years. This basketball life is sacred to us as professionals, what we put into that court means everything. Some of us wish we could go back and do things with a little more intent and some can just wipe their hands and be satisfied with the time spent. Who u gonna be? We know what zero was on…keep inspiring in the next phase of life champ. I don’t care what happens, can’t erase what it was…The first YNs, finals run in our early 20s, all star games, seeing each other get injured and bounce back, the bus rides, plane rides, card games, jokes and arguments, the whole thing, memorable!! …to the whole Westbrook family, Nina, the kids, mama Westbrook, big Russ, Ray, Donnell, everybody from luezinger high and ucla and many more that I’m forgettin, much love and Congratulations on a iconic career.