If you cheated and your success is built on that cheating, everything you've done afterwards is and should be tainted by it. Miss me with all the gaslighting and nonsense lmao
Finally someone with a fucking brain that’s willing to call it out for what it is
The soft touch approach from cunts on prominent football podcasts has been utterly embarrassing
They were a nothing club and they deserve to have the book thrown at them
🚨🚨🎙️| Enzo Maresca on his Manchester City situation:
"I'm very calm. The club has been quite clear. We completely trust the club.
"So we understand the noise, but the focus for us is just what we can control, and we can control just the football side."
"I said to them: 'If you lie to me, the day after I am not here. I will be out and I will not be your friend any more. I put my faith in you because I believe you 100% from day one and I defend the club because of that."
For all the ethics he touts...
Pep Guardiola to attend Man City v PSG next Wednesday. Will be first time he's been back to Etihad since he left his position as manager. Another sign he's backing owners despite commission's verdict.
https://t.co/ODgoWboSHm
Some of the discourse around City cheating is hilarious to me. Imagine someone who was convicted of fraud asking the judge to not take away previous earnings and not having to pay them back and only having future penalties. They'd be laughed out the room.
⚖️ 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹
Yesterday, Matt Lawton of the Times and Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail reported how Man City intends to appeal the decision of the Independent Commission, which must have been briefed by top execs at City.
The components of the appeal as reported:
1., That the Commission did not properly weigh the evidence regarding Man City’s “CPC explanation” for the payments to sponsors, including witness testimony and documentary evidence
2., That the Commission’s finding of fact that Man City and its sponsors are Related Parties is perverse
3., That the decision took too long to arrive at, making it unsafe
4., That the Commission made other perverse findings of fact that call its decision into question, such as Sheikh Mansour not being aware of the Disguised Equity Scheme
5., That this process should not be subject to the fast-track appeal process added in the 26/27 PL Handbook
Interestingly, there is no mention of challenging the legal basis of the rules. That could be because Lord Pannick already attempted this on Man City’s behalf in Section X arbitration in 2024. Whilst trying to undermine APT rules, he put forward six arguments that could also undermine the concept of FMV, thereby gutting the RPT / PSR rules that Man City have been found to have broken. The Panel was formed of 3 heavy weights who denied all 6 arguments. And in response, they even stated that preventing avoidance of PSR and ensuring its effectiveness was "a legitimate objective" and expressly described PSR as rules "which are not anti-competitive in nature.” A massive own-goal for Pannick because this sets a powerful precedent to any further challenge of the rules in law.
In the thread below, I outline the other issues Man City will likely face with their appeal, component by component (referencing and linking prior analysis)… 🧵
Andy Burnham urged to declare all meetings with Man City owners in letter from Lib Dem Culture spokesperson Anna Sabine, who also criticises his “extraordinary” defence of the club. | The Guardian
https://t.co/KPXfHV64zN
This is the game right now. Trying to apply political pressure outside of actual sport. They are guilty, they know it, but will apply pressure through every possible channel for leniency/favorable treatment.
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the Manchester City chairman, met a senior UK minister to discuss the United Arab Emirates’ investments in Britain days before news emerged that the football club had been found guilty of breaching financial rules https://t.co/jqgVFjbIP0
So let me get this straight, their irrefutable evidence was that the AD Gov paid their sponsors & not them only for it to be completely dismantled by this statement made in 2015 by Etihad THEMSELF ⬇️
“The assertion that the Abu Dhabi Government paid for Etihad’s sponsorship of English Premier League football club Manchester City is equally false”
Speak soon 😂
LOL - this idea that City ownership are separate from UAE has been farcical from the start (it's a joke that PL even bought that load of nonsense in the first place) but they're doubling down on it. Didn't work the first time, might as well try again...they also claimed it was money from sponsors initially lol
Man City will claim sponsorship cash was paid by government — not owners. This, sources say, will be the basis of their appeal, even though the evidence has already been rejected by the commission. A new panel will, of course, be appointed for appeal.
https://t.co/b2o4LqXkri
🚨 | FULL STATEMENT: Etihad Airways on the #ManCity Commission findings:
“Etihad categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication that suggests the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial arrangements.
“The Premier League’s public communication of the Commission’s findings, following a period of selective leaks and reporting, has further created damaging implications for Etihad despite the airline not being named in the redacted published findings.
“At no time did the Premier League reach out to or engage with Etihad in the process associated with the Commission’s opinion.
“Etihad was therefore never given the opportunity by the Premier League to be represented, to provide relevant information, or to ensure the accuracy and fairness of information relied upon in reaching conclusions that may now be interpreted as reflecting adversely on the airline.
“Etihad is deeply concerned by the way this matter has been communicated publicly. The lack of clarity and transparency, together with the selective disclosure of information, has created damaging implications for Etihad despite the airline not being named in the published decision.
“The Premier League must take responsibility for the consequences of the way in which these findings have been presented.
“We stand with the Club, its supporters and our wider Etihad community as Manchester City challenges the Commission’s conclusions through the processes available to it.
“Etihad will seek the relevant legal counsel on the options and recourse available to protect its interests.”
[via Daily Mail Sport] Man City's major sponsor Etihad considers legal action against Premier League af.pdf
The UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he would be “really concerned” to lose Manchester City’s Emirati owners from the Premier League.
“They’ve been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester and obviously the building of Manchester City into the global force that it is.”
More from @AdamCrafton_ ⬇️
https://t.co/eNhGtk6uI8
Skimmed the decision (which has big redactions and missing its appendices with most of the detail) - it’s just highlights
But I cannot begin to describe to you how damning it is. Nothing in there I didn’t predict but I was worried the Panel might soften their words. They didn’t.