30 Sep 2026 22:04:47
Ed001, I asked you a question the other day regarding reports of the government being worried about the Man City verdict affecting relations between the UK and the UAE and you said you doubted that was the case. I was hoping you were right.
What do you make of the prime ministers statement today? I think it's an absolute disgrace he's even gotten involved. It's a football matter and the prime minister should not be commenting on the matter before the punishment has even been handed down!
{Ed001's Note - I never realised how much of a dick he would turn into once he had something to lose. He should have kept out of it and instead should be doing stuff that matters, but he has shown himself to be open to corruption by accepting enormous donations to get him in office.}
01 Oct 2026 07:26:07
If it was a small business caught doing what they doing the book would be thrown at them immediately.
01 Oct 2026 07:38:10
It'll be interesting to see what happens because they really should throw the book at them but I fear that they won't because they are afraid to. But if they don't throw the book at them, then it takes the whole game into disrepute. It's kind of like in Northern Ireland, where I live and I'm sure the same in rest of UK. 2 people from different social backgrounds commit the exact same crime, and the person from the more affluent social background will usually get off with it. "Boys will be boys" and all that.
I really hope they do get a reasonable punishment but as a Liverpool fan, I want to look forward and not back. I get no pleasure from being awarded a 2019 title in 2028. If they start doing that, then relegated teams and teams that missed Europe will also want to be acknowledged. I think a big points deduction and a hefty hefty fine which should go into grass roots football would be the most sensible thing to do.
01 Oct 2026 08:22:01
Andy Burnham was asked a question and answered it. Maybe he should have been more evasive but a lot of other PL clubs will be 'very concerned' if City's owners sell up because of the uncertainty and for commercial reasons.
Jurgen Klopp was also asked a question, answered it and and spoke respectfully about Man City.
The independent commission will decide the sanctions on City. If you want City expelled from the PL, then Liverpool FC and all other clubs, will vote on that. Again, for commercial reasons, there's a chance that Liverpool will vote against the expulsion of City from the PL.
Clubs know what sort of revenue City bring and they will be very reluctant to lose it.
It's the modern game.
01 Oct 2026 08:42:11
@rigsby Jurgen Klopp isn't the prime minister so is free the comment on it however he wishes. Andy Burnham should know any comment the leader of the country makes could easily influence any decision or punishment handed down. It is at the very best naive, at worst prejudicial!
01 Oct 2026 08:43:26
Fact is he wasn't more evasive did he Rigsby, he was very clear on his thoughts.
01 Oct 2026 08:51:58
Barnham should have just moved away from that issue and just said it was a PL/City issue and would wait for all the facts to come out when all is said and done esp. as the leader of the country.
01 Oct 2026 09:23:18
Rigsby - can you explain to me exactly how any other premiership team benefits from the revenue City generate?
Unless I am wrong this whole issue is a direct result of how every other club has not benefited by the revenue they have been generating?
City are 1 of 20 teams that form the premiership - I would argue the opposite to your suggestion, should all these charges play out - the Prem and every other club stand to be tainted if City are allowed to stay.
01 Oct 2026 09:12:48
I fully agree Oli. Stupidity at its finest.
01 Oct 2026 09:13:44
"I do actually thank the City Football Group and the wider ownership for the money that they didn't just put into the Etihad and the campus around it but also into the city, " Burnham said.
He's up to his neck in it.
Better start drafting his resignation speech.
01 Oct 2026 09:15:30
Burnham should have kept his mouth shut.
01 Oct 2026 09:46:58
I'd agree with that Crazyhorse.
The PL has benefitted from the players City have brought into the competition no doubt. Haaland, Silva, De Bruyne etc. and even Pep would have increased the PL's popularity and global interest but the top players will still play in the PL without City.
If City go back to the EFL where they undoubtably belong the PL will be just fine.
I'd worry more about not expelling City and what kind of message that sends out. It would show the world that the PL is happy to accept corruption and cheating as long as it makes money from it.
The whole league would be tainted. I've loved football all my life and it would certainly make me have a rethink about where football is headed.
The sanction has to be similar to an athlete who has taken PEDs. A ban from competing at the highest level for a number of years.
01 Oct 2026 10:04:05
JK_RED, what did you make of Klopp's comments?
The independent commission shouldn't be swayed by comments from the PM. They could be but it wouldn't be independent and therefore not fit for purpose. But Burnham commented on a scenario that might not even happen.
He expressed concern, maybe unwisely, on the owners selling up, not being punished.
Crazy Horse, you must know what sort of revenue City generates?
Take Sky Sports, for example. How many times will City be on TV compared, to say, Hull City?
Sky Sports wants to show Liverpool v City. It wants the big games. Compare it to what Sky will pay Championship clubs.
City are also a big draw at away grounds. Fans of other clubs want to see City. They want to see Haaland, Aguero, de Bruyne etc.
Sponsorship. This will increase for other clubs because companies want to be seen when City and Haaland are in town. There will be more exposure. Smaller clubs also benefit from huge sponsorship shirt deals with the likes of City and boot deals for the likes of Haaland.
Clubs will be 'very concerned' if City is expelled from the PL. They are in the same business.
01 Oct 2026 10:07:39
Another possibility is: the independent commission votes for expulsion from the PL and the other clubs vote against it so City escape any punishment.
01 Oct 2026 10:10:03
"I do actually thank the City Football Group and the wider ownership for the money that they didn't just put into the Etihad and the campus around it but also into the city, "
Ron, this is what you get with a man who clearly has no filter and lacks any type of awareness at all. In fact, I think he is being honest here. This is not an error in judgment, imo.
Even more dangerously, this quote right here is absolute bonkers from a man who is the leader of a country esp. with all the context and information out in the public about this immense scandal.
Absolute madness.
01 Oct 2026 12:24:12
Rigsby, Klopp was denied 3 titles by the cheaters, there's nobody more affected by City's cheating, the Prime Minister should be concerning himself with homelessness and crime rates. Absolute disgrace for him to be even hinting at favouritism, as Digger said if it was a small family-owned business doing the same they'd have the book thrown at them. Burnham said
"I can't intervene MORE in the process."
So he's already showing bias in the favour of a group that's not only been cheating, but also committing fraud on an incredible scale. 'Prime minister' or not, do you take pride in defending somebody like that?
01 Oct 2026 11:47:40
It's very clear to me that Burnham is trying to influence the decision of the independent football regulator.
Burnham was a vocal supporter of the establishment of the IFR during the Premier Leagues action against Everton. So Burnham's voice was already influential regarding the IFR and now he's PM.
David Kogan is chair of the IFR and regarding the City case he said
"The IFR has powers to assess the suitability of owners, directors and executives and we will use these powers where appropriate, in the interests of protecting the sustainability, honesty and integrity of English football where there is clear evidence of wrongdoing by individuals."
Followed by Prime Minister Andy saying.
"I would be really concerned to lose them.
"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."
If that's not political interference then .
01 Oct 2026 12:34:36
Bloody hell scousers turning on a Labour PM, the 'King of the North'. City's owners really have caused a ruckus.
01 Oct 2026 14:16:09
I'm not defending Burnham. I said I've no problem with him being 'really concerned' about City's owners selling up after their investment into Manchester.
Being really concerned isn't a big deal to me and the owners might not even sell up anyway.
It was a throwaway comment about a hypothetical situation.
If you lot want to be concerned about someone being really concerned about something that might not happen, it's ok with me ?.
01 Oct 2026 14:25:44
For the record, and I've said it more than once, City should just accept the committee's decision and sanctions that are imposed.
For those advocating more extreme sanctions:: that could backfire and play into the hands of City's lawyers.
01 Oct 2026 14:56:39
You've posted multiple comments over at least 2 threads that clearly display you're leaning towards support for Burnham in the disgraceful remarks he's made, you're only backing up now because I laid it out bluntly.
01 Oct 2026 14:59:01
"I can't intervene MORE in the process."
Exactly, Chewy. This guy is a mess and a half.
I mean, who says this under these circumstances?
02 Oct 2026 05:22:42
If Burnham was any sort of politician, instead of being wrapped up in self-importance he would have batted the questions away with 'no comment' or 'can't comment at this time'.
The fact that he chose to answer (ego notwithstanding) suggests to me that he is either incredibly naive and shouldn't lead a school raffle never mind the Prime Minister, or was making an incredibly stupid political statement and was fully aware of what he was saying and why he said it. Either way, he seems to me to be unfit to run a booze up in a brewery.
02 Oct 2026 09:43:52
Ok, Chewy.
Yeah, I'm backing up because you laid it so bluntly.
Ta, lad.