05 Oct 2026 10:19:28
A question for the Ed's if u would be so kind
If as looks likely, the charges against city are upheld, do we then think they will be investigated for later offences?
I'm only asking because the current charges are up to 2018/2019 I think, so what's to say they haven't continued with their sham sponsorships?
{Ed001's Note - as far as I am aware they are not investigating, but they should be and I would hope it is just that I don't know about it. It would be sensible to check their finances every year, they can't possibly have just been guilty in the years the charges were for, there will be, at the very least, a large overlap with regards to contracts.}
05 Oct 2026 11:36:58
I would hazard a guess that all the money put in during that time would be enough to pad the club for a good few years like Chelsea did under Roman.
If you look at city's dealings recently there net spend is not crazy because they have had so many players to sell to help with that.
Thats why every trophy should be taken from them not just that time period.
05 Oct 2026 12:03:42
Of course, the later years should be investigated. I'm not saying there's a problem with the recent Haaland contract, but how on Earth do you sign a player for the next 8 years at 500, 000 per week? That's a committed outlay of 208 Million until 2034 for just one player.
And I've never gotten my head around buying him initially for only 51 Million (going up to 85 Million). I am so sure there were undisclosed additional amounts involved. How else do you beat clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona (who are confirmed masters at this part of the game)?
05 Oct 2026 11:55:44
Totally agree ed001 and thanks for the reply.
Think the old adage " once a cheat always a cheat " is relevant here.
05 Oct 2026 12:39:12
Some of the stories flying around about this are insane: City sponsors threatening to sue the Premier League whilst City bases their appeal on a defence that directly contradicts information that they have given authorities in the past and the Saudi government attempting to blackmail the British government by threatening to withdraw funding for things if City are found guilty.
That alone should trigger a failure of the 'fit and proper owner' test and they should not be allowed a financial interest in any Premier League club.
{Ed001's Note - this is nothing to do with Saudis! Please drop the ignorance.}
05 Oct 2026 12:40:51
I have asked further down so apologies if it is seen as repeated. However, in the balance of probabilities, will the Womens team who also underwent a significatn transformation over the same years be held to the same account?
05 Oct 2026 12:47:57
You wonder whether the Premier League would leverage the possibility of investigation the more recent years in any negotiations related to appeals, sanctions and the possibility of taking it to the High Court.
Unfortunately, City owners have shown they will stop at absolutely nothing, so its impossible to speculate really. A depressing situation for English football!
05 Oct 2026 12:54:19
The Saudi government has nothing to do with City. I believe you mean the UAE government is the one threatening to pull out of investments since they are the ones who own City.
05 Oct 2026 13:04:54
Yeah, but they all look the same don't they.
05 Oct 2026 14:34:29
Only an Aussie would say something like that! Be careful WdW, irony rarely transcends message boards. ?.
05 Oct 2026 15:13:33
It's like calling the British government the French or the Germans.
All part of Europe so we're all the same surely?
I don't agree with the casual racism allegations though. I think it's just a general geographical ignorance.
05 Oct 2026 15:13:55
Is there any actual real evidence the UAE have threatened to withdraw investment?
All I've seen is "reports say" or "our sources say".
05 Oct 2026 14:22:41
It's always "the Saudis". Probably because a small minority can't actually name another middle Eastern country. Saudi is a fantastic country for the most part in comparison to a lot of the middle East, some of which are complete hell holes.
05 Oct 2026 16:25:32
The city foundation is inflated by the cheating. Therefore anything built on it is directly linked.
I'd expect legally it's almost impossible to prove. Somewhere a line will be drawn if they can prove the practice has stopped. Which i'd like to think it has as soon as the investigation was launched.
This will drag years in the hope the PL effectively give up or resources dry up and I am certain the punishment won't fit the crime.
I think titles go and a huge points reduction. But they'll be straight back up and challenging. I just hope they don't win the league, otherwise another year has gone to the cheats.
05 Oct 2026 16:50:10
I don't think Shipley is racist but an off the cuff remark by WDW ( typical) got us debating it. Absolute blurt ( WDW) why would you even say something like that? You thought it no one else.!
05 Oct 2026 16:51:51
I think a points deduction this season, that will relegate them, further 20-25 points deductions for numerous seasons when they return to the PL, all titles stripped for the period under investigation and a significant fine.
This can't be merely a one and done sanction, they should suffer for their cheating for years to come.
05 Oct 2026 17:52:51
It's not easy being geographically challenged.
Side note: Shipley's not racist, he just finds it hard to differentiate between extraordinarily wealthy Arabs, WDW made a joke about it and it all went straight over Scouse John's head.
05 Oct 2026 18:49:27
Nothing went over my head lad.
05 Oct 2026 22:03:46
@Delvecs, whilst I live in Oz, I'm actually from Liverpool (West Derby). The humour was / is Scouse.
In my opinion, people who either don't know, or can't be bothered checking 1) where City's owners come from and / or 2) can't understand and / or distinguish between the UAE and its constituent states and Saudi Arabia, deserve to be laughed at.
06 Oct 2026 03:10:47
People will say I'm harsh but in my opinion we shouldn't let a burglar keep the stolen goods even if he goes to jail.
They have built a reputation and history on I'll gotten gains. All those gains need to be removed. All trophies removed
They have also totally disrespected the sport, the league and their partners and shouldn't be given the chance to run some David Vs goliath romance campaign by playing good football and charming the lower leagues. It should be a full sporting ban, they shouldn't be given the chance to do damage control. It should be sporting jail.
{Ed666's Note - You cockblocker Nevada I was looking forward to being romanced..
06 Oct 2026 09:26:37
It won't be though, will it? Let's be realistic. The City owners have too many influential friends.
It will be a "deal" to bring an end to legal proceedings and keep City owners engaged, but it will be meaningful punishment.
The players won't all be up for Bosman's - apart from anything else that will just inflate wages even more.
I honestly expect a big fine, maybe over a hundred million and moderate points deductions for several PL seasons.
I would propose 30 points a season for 5 seasons.
Gives them a miniscule chance of winning the league.
Gives them a half chance of getting into the CL.
That way they can still get in to the European competitions even though it will be very tough. More likely they will win a few cup competitions and get in to Europe that way.
06 Oct 2026 09:49:43
@Ron, someone said that at a minimum, City should get a 40 point deduction for 5 years. That way, they need 80 points just to stay up.
What do you think?
06 Oct 2026 10:47:22
Yeah that sort of range Oli. I think 30 will be more acceptable to City to prevent players and owners leaving and to make them drop legal proceedings.
30 means their maximum points net would be 84 which in some seasons would win the title. 70 points to stay up, 90 points to get into to the European conversation.
Feels about right, 90 points is a tough ask.
So 30-40 points is where it'll probably end up, over 40 probably relegates them and may make players and owners leave.
06 Oct 2026 12:32:48
Titles stripped, relegated at least 2 divisions, min 30 points deduction for 5 years, 5 year transfer ban, owners, execs and anyone complicit should all be banned from the league for life.
Anything less than that says "Premier League, Cheaters Welcome!".