He took down City, now he's taking down Infantino. Things you love to see
Back in 2014, there was a man who was already aware of the irregularities involving Manchester City. That man now runs FIFA. The infamous Gianni Infantino, then UEFA General Secretary, abused his authority, shared confidential documents and, in short, outmanoeuvred the Investigatory Chamber, doing everything in his power to ensure that both Manchester City and PSG would merely receive a fine, avoiding a deeper investigation that could have led to a Champions League ban. All of these details were also revealed through Football Leaks.
Given his actions as UEFA General Secretary and, more recently, as FIFA President, I can only say, in my humble opinion, that Gianni Infantino has become a cancer on football and should have no place in the future of the game.
Adam retweeted
BREAKING: The Premier League confirm an independent Commission has found Manchester City guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.
The independent Commission found that between Seasons 2009/10 and 2017/18:
"Manchester City arranged ‘sham’ contracts (which misrepresented the true agreement between the parties) with a number of its commercial partners, as well as relying on ‘sham’ agreements with others, to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs.
"The club filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from its auditors and football regulators.
"Manchester City was significantly in breach of both the Premier League’s and UEFA’s spending limits.
"During the Premier League’s investigation, Manchester City committed multiple breaches of its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith towards the League (three of the four alleged breaches were upheld).
"The independent Commission found that Manchester City arranged ‘sham’ commercial deals with a number of its sponsors during the period, which were part of a disguised funding scheme, whereby those companies were only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees. The remainder was funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club. As part of the scheme, further ‘sham’ arrangements, funded by ADUG, were entered into to enable the club to record lower operating expenses than it actually incurred, as well as a ‘sham’ circular arrangement with Fordham, an entity that purchased the club’s players’ image rights, that was funded by ADUG."
The EPL add: "The purpose of these schemes was found to have been to artificially inflate the club’s revenues, and reduce its costs, by more than £900 million during the affected period, to appear to comply with financial rules. The consequence of this, as the Commission found, was that the club filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from its auditors and football regulators. The Commission concluded that ‘by its conduct the club clearly intended to circumvent the PL Rules.
"As a result, Manchester City failed to accurately report its income and expenditure for the purposes of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules and UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Rules. The Commission found that, had all of the relevant agreements been reported accurately in the club’s accounts, it would have been in breach of both the League’s and UEFA’s spending limits by a very substantial amount.
"In addition, during the course of the four-year investigation conducted by the Premier League, the club committed multiple breaches of its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith towards the League. The Commission concluded that the club had ‘made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the PL investigation."
Richard Masters: “The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade.
“It also vindicates the Premier League’s decision to pursue this case against Manchester City. While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently.
“It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the Rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition. It is paramount that the League remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans. We take that role extremely seriously.
“This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history. There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches. Now we have the Commission’s decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans.”
A redacted version of the independent Commission’s findings has been published.
Now that the charges have been proved, the issue of sanction will be addressed separately in a further hearing.
City has the right to appeal the independent Commission’s findings and has until Friday 2 October to exercise that right.
Adam retweeted
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City found guilty on virtually all charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations. #MCFC expected to appeal against verdict issued by independent commission. Sanctions undecided, process ongoing @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/7049721…
Adam retweeted
Imagine the pride of lying down on that sunbed with your foe strewn next to it, dead
Man, 82, dies after beach fight with 76-year-old over sunlounger in Greece bbc.in/4y0By5m
Adam retweeted
🚨 Manchester United have lost at Old Trafford from 2+ goals ahead for the first time in over 50 years, since a 3-2 loss to Spurs in September 1976. [@OptaJoe]
Adam retweeted
JJ Gabriel is undoubtedly a very special talent but he is *checks notes* 15. Only 15. He can’t change in the seniors’ dressing-room yet. He’s not physically ready for first-team football yet. Pathways are not speed tracks. It’s about easing Gabriel in gradually, working on his physical and tactical development, growing. Because the skill is undoubtedly there.
Look how Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, is gradually nurturing the talent of Max Dowman, 16: 153 minutes over six Premier League games (1 start, 5 subs) and 387 minutes over eight cup games so far (4, 4). Dowman started against Ipswich in the League Cup last night and scored twice. He played 90 minutes. Arteta knows when and where to give him games. And Dowman is more physically ready for first-team football than Gabriel.
It’s sad there has been some fall-out/misunderstanding between Gabriel, his father, and Manchester United. He has asked to leave, as per @Matt_Law_DT. But wherever Gabriel goes, if they are a responsible club, and thinking of his long-term development, they won’t be starting him any time soon. He’s still developing physically. And will he settle? Real Madrid, one of the clubs he’s being linked with, would be a formidable challenge. Look before you leap.
At least he is familiar with the United set-up. He’s grown up there, and still has some growing to do. Yes, he may well have been frustrated not to be involved against Sabah. And frustrated to see the injured Manuel Ugarte taking up a place in the Champions League squad. But the reported plan was to give him his debut – as United’s youngest ever player – against Brighton in the League Cup tonight.
There is a pathway. United have a famous history of giving youth a chance. There will be opportunity if Gabriel shows he’s ready. Does Gabriel want to follow in the footsteps of George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Marcus Rashford and co?
United, understandably, want to keep a special talent and let's hope some rapprochement is possible. Michael Carrick could be central to this. His 16-year-old son is in the academy. Carrick understands the academy, the pathway and what's best for a teenager's development.
For Gabriel, the timing of all this is strange anyway. He can’t move abroad until he’s 16 anyway. If he’s set on leaving, it will be far easier next summer. When Gabriel will be only *checks notes* 16. There’s no hurry.
JJ Gabriel is clearly a very talented lad but if this is how he behaves then he's not the sort of player you want at the club. The people advising him aren't going to do him any favours in the future
Adam retweeted
Manchester United were shafted by an absolutely dreadful VAR decision, but their own performance was atrocious and shameful for a derby. No quality, no fight and constantly over hit basic passes and crosses. A bad start to the season gets even worse.
Hahahaha you can't make it up
Pro Ref have acknowledged a mistake made in the Manchester Derby.
“Following the incident in the 60th minute of Sunday's Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, we can provide clarification regarding Erling Haaland’s awarded goal.
“The on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland – that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position.
“In the same attack, it was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective, however, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.
“Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place.”
