The 2026/27 Football Season

[Iamforreal]

They keep saying they are innocent, maybe they are, how does appeal work?
You are found guilty of 114 charges and then you appeal, what kind of evidence do you bring so majority of those charges are overturned?
Also someone being so innocent and not doing anything wrong would be happy to spill everything in public, why so much resistance?
Wonder what Pep thinks now? He defended them with so much passion ....

[Vice Admiral]

1.  Roberto Mancini signed two contracts on the same day in 2009: £1.45 million a year to manage City, and £1.75 million a year as a “consultant” to City’s sister club Al Jazira, involving a minimum of four days’ coaching a year.

2.  Of £59.5 million supposedly paid as sponsorship money by Etihad Airways, all but £8 million came from City’s owners.

Also someone being so innocent and not doing anything wrong would be happy to spill everything in public, why so much resistance?
Wonder what Pep thinks now? He defended them with so much passion ....

As today’s Sunday Times reminds us, the phrase City uses is that it has ”irrefutable evidence” to contest the charges.  But they do indeed seem reluctant to tell us what it is.  (Any such evidence is not sub judice, as far as I know?)

Meanwhile, the two instances I cited in my reply at 1.01 pm yesterday look to me pretty much like ”irrefutable evidence” that City is as guilty as fuck.

[TomTank]

We are on the same page
The bottom section of my post #1127

Hopefully the report with minimal redactions is released & sooner rather than later
Blacked out sections won't present the best optics for City
City know that publication [doing their washing in public think very large launderette] makes it impossible for them to put the genie back in the bottle, oh dear

Ah yes, sorry I missed the end bit of your post.

I would add that Mubarak could still have a plan to keep kicking the can down the road, and be preparing for the High Court, where he will prove that the Red Cartel have targeted city and therefore the process was unfair - maybe the irrefutable evidence is a tapped phone call between chairmen discussing how they can nail city.

The report being made public puts a small spanner in the works of that plan.

Whatever happens it looks like they will continue to be shameless, including many of their fans, and I don't buy this idea that we should feel sorry for their non-plastic fans who were there in the 90s - I know plenty of them who have been shameless in their Lance Armstrong years, and continue to be shameless in the face of the guilty verdict.

[webpunter]

City could well be a team that Neutrals love to hate, dare I say they may topple another club from their perch on that front 

Don't be silly, what are you like ? 

For whatever City's failings are there is one +ve aspect the noisy neighbours helped stick the boot in & hasten their downfall

For me it would be like one of the Sheffield teams leaving Leeds for dust

One of the reasons i was jumping around the living room when Sunderland scored late into added time in the play off final

There's nothing better than a late happy ending [especially when its unexpected] & wilder-is-a-wanker really can off-you-fuck

[webpunter]

Ah yes, sorry I missed the end bit of your post.

I would add that Mubarak could still have a plan to keep kicking the can down the road, and be preparing for the High Court, where he will prove that the Red Cartel have targeted city and therefore the process was unfair - maybe the irrefutable evidence is a tapped phone call between chairmen discussing how they can nail city.

The report being made public puts a small spanner in the works of that plan.

Whatever happens it looks like they will continue to be shameless, including many of their fans, and I don't buy this idea that we should feel sorry for their non-plastic fans who were there in the 90s - I know plenty of them who have been shameless in their Lance Armstrong years, and continue to be shameless in the face of the guilty verdict.

No need for the sorry, minds thinking alike etc

As for Chairmen discussing whatever [i'm sure it comes up in convo] this is after the event

Worth remembering that City's activities landed in the lap of the PL

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Outrageous he got banged up for hacking

IMO he's the Robin Hood of footy journalists

If it wasn't for him the PL would still be trying to figure out [unsuccessfully] what City were up to

The PL really do need to get the lengthy report out one way or another, it would be a shame if it were to be leaked 

A small spanner indeed like firing a good few 0.5cals into an engine & watch it go bang

[TomTank]

Don't be silly, what are you like ? 

For whatever City's failings are there is one +ve aspect the noisy neighbours helped stick the boot in & hasten their downfall

For me it would be like one of the Sheffield teams leaving Leeds for dust

One of the reasons i was jumping around the living room when Sunderland scored late into added time in the play off final

There's nothing better than a late happy ending [especially when its unexpected] & wilder-is-a-wanker really can off-you-fuck

This is one of the reasons city have got away with it for so long.
The ABU nation was so happy with them putting one over on United, that they failed to see that they were destroying football.

Imagine if Abu Dhabi had bought United.
It would have been the main topic in PMQs and dealt with 17 years ago.

[webpunter]

As an aside there are two beneficiaries of the City bombshell namely Carrick & DZ
Its well & truly taken them off the back pages
Add in the international break & they both breathe a sigh of relief for a short period

[webpunter]

This is one of the reasons city have got away with it for so long.
The ABU nation was so happy with them putting one over on United, that they failed to see that they were destroying football.

Imagine if Abu Dhabi had bought United.
It would have been the main topic in PMQs and dealt with 17 years ago.

ABU, moi ? 
When Leeds were getting stuffed on their slide to relegation back to the Championship in the 2022-23 season i'd look to the Utd result & if they'd got beat or thrown away a lead to draw it would soften the blow
City haven't been destroying football more the opposite they've been over zealous and now they have to pay the price whatever punishments get dished out

AD buying Utd would have been considerably better than The Glazers
Only Utd can find someone worse than TG to buy 25% 
There was the Saudi Crown Prince who bid £5bn for Utd [all cash no debt on the Utd balance sheet]
TG wanted £6bn tho they ended up with around £1.3bn for 25% from JR [Ewing not Radcliffe would probably have been better]- so around the same
With City blowing up & Newcastle not being the quick success route envisaged i cant see any further bids coming from the Middle East
Saudi sports washing some 7 years ago would have been perfect, this gravy train has come to a grinding halt they now have other areas of interest
Hence Utd are stuck with TG & JR
TG are only interested in money pretty much the same for JR who has evidenced that he is clueless when it comes to sports sectors he's got involved in
Various problems to overcome for any new buyer interested - who will be debt / profit focused - rather than looking to develop a club building infrastructure like AD have done on the blue side of the city
Utd have enough debt without adding in s stadium build & as for the new stadium becoming the Wembley of the North [JR wanting public funds] now there's no chance of this
& i can see the FA wanting to keep things as they are not wanting to see matches / concerts diverted away from Wembley

[toon972]

So pleased our Saudi friends are doing things the right and honest  way. 

[Stevelondon]

So pleased our Saudi friends are doing things the right and honest  way.

Like at Newcastle 🤷🏼

[Coriniumstud]

We can all Agree,that the one good thing to come out of City Cheating is that it stopped that scummy cunt Partey from Winning the Premier League

[shagmore]

Man City, trophies taken away or not

As the title says, after the extravagant cheating of Man City, should they have their trophies and titles taken away.
I think they should but the FA will not do anything to a large club.
Feel sorry for the smaller clubs that got beaten long the way to tittles and trophies

[Punting2022]

Yes please. Means utd get more

[webpunter]

We can all Agree,that the one good thing to come out of City Cheating is that it stopped that scummy cunt Partey from Winning the Premier League

You've lost me 

[daviemac]

Man City, trophies taken away or not

All discussed in the dedicated football thread so merged.

[Blackpool Rock]

You've lost me 

Think he means Thomas Partey didn't win the prem as City beat Arsenal to the title through cheating

[Blackpool Rock]

Yes please. Means utd get more

Things are starting to make sense now 

[shagmore]

All discussed in the dedicated football thread so merged.

No problem,  thought that might have been the case, full understand

[john122350]

 

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[Vice Admiral]

A report in today’s Times about the Manchester City saga has this:  “The Premier League may be caught in a dilemma. It will be under pressure to take a strong position but at the same time will be aware that relegation would remove some of the league’s most glamorous stars — such as Erling Haaland — from its competition.”

It would be absolutely disgraceful if that factor were to influence City’s punishment.  But would we be surprised?

Later the report has this:  “The panel does have the option of expelling City from the Premier League but if that happened, the club would be in limbo with no guarantee they could play in the EFL.”

Indeed!  The EFL would do well to stay clear of a troublesome club like City.

So the only option may be the GM Vauxhall Conference (or whatever it’s called these days).   Perhaps “some of the league’s most glamorous stars” wouldn’t find it as easy as they think to score against Wealdstone and Hornchurch – to say nothing of high-flying Boreham Wood, who are undefeated so far this season, having won 8 of their 10 matches.   

[FiveKnuckles]

A report in today’s Times about the Manchester City saga has this:  “The Premier League may be caught in a dilemma. It will be under pressure to take a strong position but at the same time will be aware that relegation would remove some of the league’s most glamorous stars — such as Erling Haaland — from its competition.”

rumour has it, Haaland doesn't have a relegation clause     If Mancheater does get the boot, I can see a few players going to court to fight their contracts

[Stevelondon]

Why should there be a dilemma about all this.
Kick the cheating club out of the leagues.
Their players are under contract so will still earn their staggering wages and if they don’t like it and fight to leave the club……. So be it.


The probable outcome will be points deducted…….. fucking ridiculous.
A huge fine…….. but when you have a bottomless pit full of money. No fine is huge enough.
A drop down a division……… so they play in the championship for a year before coming back up. Fucking pointless.

They’ve made a mockery of the rules and it’s gone on for so long. It makes a mockery of those idiots in charge who have to come up with a way of penalising them.

[WARSZAWA16]

I will just leave this here.
FC CSKA 1948, Bulgaria Sports Psychologist.


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[Private Parts]

Why should there be a dilemma about all this.
Kick the cheating club out of the leagues.
Their players are under contract so will still earn their staggering wages and if they don’t like it and fight to leave the club……. So be it.


The probable outcome will be points deducted…….. fucking ridiculous.
A huge fine…….. but when you have a bottomless pit full of money. No fine is huge enough.
A drop down a division……… so they play in the championship for a year before coming back up. Fucking pointless.

They’ve made a mockery of the rules and it’s gone on for so long. It makes a mockery of those idiots in charge who have to come up with a way of penalising them.

Got it in one!
Demeaning. It saddens me to see the FA sell itself in the name of progress.
Bunch of old farts who haven't a clue

[Blackpool Rock]

The FA have just confirmed the charges against City and are citing "Sham" contracts with sponsors etc, the article doesn't mention it however the figure of £900M was just mentioned on the news, that's a lot of dosh to fiddle

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[WARSZAWA16]

Looks like there could well be criminal overtones of false accounting and fraud. I wonder if the National Crime Agency and the Serious Fraud Office might now wish to get involved as it appears to now also be moving into territory beyond just Premier League rules...

[WARSZAWA16]

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[Iamforreal]

Apparently they made cuts of £900 million so it appeared that everything is in order  plus the inflated sponsorship deals.
Just send therm to national league  the more we read about it the worse it is.
Shame on UEFA for clearing them few years ago with a small fine because the charges were time barred.

[Iamforreal]

It is a bit shit for the players who won the trophies because they have no fault, they didn't know what the club was doing behind the scenes so to speak.

[john122350]

City statement

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[timsussex]

As I pointed out earlier
a Fine could be effective - if it had to come out of FFP (or whatever system)  so they effectively would be severely limited in  buying new players
while a demotion does appeal  do we then only relegate 2 other clubs ?
what effect would it have on the championship next year as assuming with the same team they walk it  there would only be 1 automatic promotion 

So how about a 10, 15 or even  20 point deduction in  each of the next 5 years (or as many years as they cheated for) ?
Would ensure they dont finish top or even qualify for CL I suspect Haaland etal would be gone in a shot

[Stevelondon]

Watching the England game tonight.

Bloody hell……. I thought our national anthem was crap 

[Stevelondon]

Apparently they made cuts of £900 million so it appeared that everything is in order  plus the inflated sponsorship deals.
Just send therm to national league  the more we read about it the worse it is.
Shame on UEFA for clearing them few years ago with a small fine because the charges were time barred.

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[Stevelondon]

Highlights of the Czech Republic v England match.

The bloody national anthems 

[webpunter]

Oh to have had TAA @ the WC 
Instead Tuchel in his wisdom decides to take Henderson because he's supposedly good to have in the dressing room & training ground, just brilliant 
Especially against the argies TAA could have made such a difference
I know WC related however i've mentioned given that his cross set up the 1st goal & that the WC thread is pretty dead attention is here

[mr.bluesky]

Oh to have had TAA @ the WC 
Instead Tuchel in his wisdom decides to take Henderson because he's supposedly good to have in the dressing room & training ground, just brilliant 
Especially against the argies TAA could have made such a difference
I know WC related however i've mentioned given that his cross set up the 1st goal & that the WC thread is pretty dead attention is here

Henderson's contribution in the recent World cup will be best remembered for falling over an advertising hoarding and breaking his arm 

[timsussex]

Oh to have had TAA @ the WC 
Instead Tuchel in his wisdom decides to take Henderson because he's supposedly good to have in the dressing room & training ground, just brilliant 
Especially against the argies TAA could have made such a difference
I know WC related however i've mentioned given that his cross set up the 1st goal & that the WC thread is pretty dead attention is here

That VAR/Ref could have made more difference there were several fouls on Anderson that were worse than tonight's red card

[timsussex]

Henderson's contribution in the recent World cup will be best remembered for falling over an advertising hoarding and breaking his arm 

He did more than that

He also got booked when warming up !

[WARSZAWA16]

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[Stevelondon]

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[WARSZAWA16]

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[nwluvit]

I feel sorry for the genuine MC fans.
The owners obviously thought their wealth might somehow shield them from scrutiny!!
No doubt they will claim it was the only way to compete.
As a NUFC fan it's tough knowing you have the richest owners in the World, but have to watch the pennies not to fall foul of PL/UEFA rules-which all protect the bigger clubs and make it very hard to join the "top table."

[Private Parts]

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Never in Joe Mercer's or Franny's day.
Shameful

[timsussex]

Had radio4 on in the car and they have a weekly media program and they raised the possibility (that I havent heard before) that the magic Man City defence and the reason they were disappointed at the findings is this

The details discovered relied on the illegal hacking done by a convicted criminal and sold to Der Spegel so no doubt their highly paid lawyers will argue that none of it should have been allowed 

[john122350]

Andy Burnham 'really concerned' if Man City owners sell up after rule breaches - BBC News External Link/Members Only

[john122350]

Ronaldo could retire from international football following the latest fallout with Jorge Jesus.

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[webpunter]

Andy Burnham 'really concerned' if Man City owners sell up after rule breaches - BBC News External Link/Members Only

He does make valid points as to the +ve things that City have done for both the area around the stadium massive investment benefitting the public & Mcr / the NW
Deftly avoiding the elephant in the room pretty much

Contrast City to Utd
The latter haven't broken any PL rules in some ways what they've done is equally as bad
The Glazers have raped & pillaged Utd & the clues are there for all to see
Not even funds to fix the leaky roof
Such is the state of the dilapidated TONM the stadium ignored for the €uro 2028 tournament, quelle surprise

[webpunter]

Ronaldo could retire from international football following the latest fallout with Jorge Jesus.

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It comes after head coach Jorge Jesus earlier said there was no rift with the captain 

Some bollocks excuse about bringing him on / not

Be Jesus had better hope Portugal win the next couple of matches

[rioblack90]

Ronaldo could retire from international football following the latest fallout with Jorge Jesus.

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Phenomenal football player, incredible mentality well into practically middle age. His stint at United at the age of 37 showed he was better than 80% of players 10 years his senior. You have to admire it.

But the hands of time wait for no man. As incredible he is and was the writing has been on the wall for him ever since he went to Saudi. He looks stiff in all his training videos and I’m sure his regiment is the same but his body simply doesn’t work like his mind does and can’t keep up. Writing was on the wall. His game relied on his Athleticism and tho his positioning is fantastic still it doesn’t make up for the short fall.

The massive downside to his want to be the best is his reluctance to step back from the lime light. He should have been on the bench mentoring the younger players of the national team but his ego won’t allow it/ he genuinely thinks he is still better than what they have and should play.

Portuguese FA and the manager should have been honest with him from the start that he would not be in the starting 11 and it’s a shambolic ending.

Still 3 trophies for his country which hadn’t won any is a great achievement. But sad really all round.

[webpunter]

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More squirming
Like Khaldoon al-Mubarak they've made the same mistake [as mentioned previously] thinking that they kick up a fuss & the problem goes away as in their own country
As if the PL are gonna back down trembling yeah right
The genie is out of the bottle & its not going back in
Me thinks they would have been best advised to keep below the horizon & their powder dry for at least now, oops