Morning guys.
This international break has been filled by Man City’s problems. As expected, they are appealing the 114 guilty verdicts but it seems, at least according to Sky Sports, their appeal is already flawed.
Sports outlets suggest that City are expected to claim that the extra funding for their sponsorship deals came from the Abu Dhabi government and not the club’s majority owners, Abu Dhabi United Group but in a statement Etihad submitted to the US Departments of Commerce, Transportation and State in May 2015 appears to contradict this.
The assertion that the Abu Dhabi government paid for Etihad’s sponsorship of English Premier League football club Manchester City is equally false. In 2011, Etihad and Manchester City entered into a 10-year sponsorship agreement, which included naming rights for Manchester City’s stadium. Etihad funded this sponsorship from its own liquidity. It is not uncommon for airlines to have sponsorships with sports teams and their venues.
We are and have always been clear that we do not receive any subsidies from the Abu Dhabi government, and that we are financed through a combination of equity, shareholder and commercial loans.
I find it hard to believe that highly paid and qualified lawyers would not be aware of the above statement made in 2015. If they weren’t though, they will be now. Man City know if they are guilty or not and if they are, which I suspect is the case, surely the best thing they could do is hold their hands up and take whatever punishment they get.
As the saying goes, if you can’t do the time, don’t commit the crime. I often wonder how Arsenal could afford to let players leave for nothing so often and yet still spend a lot of money but I guess the club is better at balancing their books than I give them credit for. At least I hope that’s the case as I’m sure City’s case will have opened a huge can of worms which has been on the cards for a long time.
Perhaps if footballing world had listened to Arsene Wenger all those years ago instead of writing him off as constant moaner, the Premier League would be a much better position than it is. Fairer too.
One has to wonder why it took a whistleblower to bring this into the open and not the organisation itself. Isn’t it often said that if something looks terribly wrong, it usually is? But the Premier League/FA – whoever made the decision to allow foreign ownership from countries which are known to not be entirely honest to buy English football clubs, really need to be asked questions about how they came to their decision. What was in for them I wonder…
Only a few days ago we heard the prime minister say he would be disappointed to see the City owners sell up because of what they have done for the city, or something along those lines, well, what have they done for the city I wonder, other than to invest in a club which has been successful. For now at least. Burnham soon backtracked of course but if I was an investigative journalist, I’d want to find out more. Not that I’m suggesting anything untoward has gone on of course, I wouldn’t dream of it.
But then I’m sure that just like many football fans around the world, I wouldn’t dream have loved to have seen someone be more interested in the goings on at Chelsea under Roman Abramovich back in his day. Logic alone suggested that back then, all was not as it seemed but again, Arsene’s concerns were simply dismissed because his teams were getting thumped by the ghastly Mourinho.
Perhaps looking back, television companies, especially Sky Sports who love a transfer window, should have been less excited about the multimillion plus signings are made by certain clubs and instead, talk about how they can be made so often. How clubs can have 30/40 odd players on their books when only 25 can be listed at the start of the season. The wheeling and dealings between two clubs back in the summer would have made even Harry Redknapp raise an eyebrow I’m sure.
And we wonder why Arsenal reportedly wouldn’t pay the money required to sign Morgan Rogers….
Thank goodness Premier League football returns this time next week because there will be something else to talk about. Injuries probably…
Catch up in the comments.
With the United Arab Emirates threatening to “pull billions out of Britain” should we be worried about the continuation of stadium naming rights and for the free use of Emirates Airlines for our travel to away venues and other advertising income?
Agree Geoff.
Afternoon Cicero, the last time I promise, at least until after the appeal. Lol
Just watched an interview with Jack Wilshere on the BBC. Really good.
What I like reading about during this break is Scanlon and O’Neill getting minutes and playing really well according to what’s being written. Playing against international sides perhaps shows that if they are needed for the first team, they could cope.
Viktor is three goals short of Sweden’s highest ever goal scorer.
The best thing politician and sports can do is stay out of each other’s business.
G’day Rico.
Oh not you too! 😠
The print media coverage given to the City Crimes is worthy the capture of a modern day Jack the Ripper and the Yorkshire Ripper combined.
Pages and pages of speculation, guesswork and downright invention fill the pages of both broad sheet and tabloid newspapers.
I really cannot wait for the whole sorry saga to be resolved, City severely punished and their owners also sanctioned.
In the meantime I’m reading books and doing a little gentle gardening.
Just kidding Rico.😉