Etihad Airways considers legal action over Manchester City verdict
This entire City story - and especially the last stories of Etihad, Burnham and Khaldoon’s diplomatic immunity - crystallises why states and state actors should not be allowed own clubs The longer it goes, the more chaotic it gets www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Electribeme4Or buy up industrial cities to redevelop for reputation laundering with very little benefit to locals
Duff4You’re doing great work man, thank you
donskarky.bsky.social2Yup! PSG next up ...
Jim Halios2Miguel, thank you for continuing to hold these bad actors and accomplices to account!!
Goonerrhea1Can only hope Burnham’s just saying that to show the Govt still wants other UAE investments to continue, but surely he can’t have any input into an independent inquiry’s process.
Very interesting, but debatable take. In global terms, despite the glut of titles*, Man City are now tainted to such an extent that their commercial value will have nosedived anyway; and it's not as if the PL would suddenly lose its main/only locomotive, like Serie A did when Juve were demoted.
Jonno 🏴35I may be showing my age but I find it odd how many people are treating City like a huge institution the PL can't afford to lose. They've only been significant for about 15 years and people will move on very quickly. I mean they still struggled to fill their stadium to this day
Philippe Auclair21I'd imagine that quite a few current MCFC sponsors/partners who are not extensions of the UAE, like OKX, Asahi or Revolut (and Durex!), are now having a good look at their contracts to see whether they can dissociate themselves from a toxic brand. New Puma ad featuring the cheats...great.
Martin Calladine18City and the other big clubs have convinced football that black is white. The league gives clubs a global platform, not the other way round. When Chelsea and Man City weren't troubling the scorers, the TV money went up just the same. City being expelled wouldn't make a measurable financial dent.
Nick Craw🇪🇺🇨🇦🇬🇱🇹🇭13The Asian country I know well is of course Thailand a huge market for PL - the only league they watch. Even the Thai national league is neglected. The big teams are Liverpool & Man Utd then comes Chelsea & Arsenal Man City was getting popular but at best its 2-3%. The Premier League will survive.
A Lán10Not to sound all conspiratorial but it sounds a lot like Citys PR machine whizzing into life. It seems contrary to everything else weve heard about how other clubs are viewing this. Wouldn't surprise me to find out its them trying to muddy the waters and scare clubs off pushing for their expulsion.
Phil Harrison8Big risk here that the clubs completely fail to read the room. The fans care about cheating, even if the Chief Execs of other clubs don't. Is there a chance that other clubs have been doing similar stuff to City and don't want to set a precedent?
Manchester City is also accused of not paying £12 million in tax. Shut these fraudsters down and lock them up.
Sarah Chapman8Never underestimate the desire of the rich to pay no tax at all if they possibly can.
Debbie6I'm not a City fan but what about every other person/company that doesn't pay their taxes? HMRC are more bothered about about penalising small businesses and self employed rather go after these big companies and tax dodging millionaires
I recall them coming from nowhere to the very top! Shows what buckshee cash does! 😜😂😂
stergio.bsky.social3Did City break the rules so they could compete against the cartel. When this is finished (really?) can we also look at other examples of 'cartels' operating under different rules, conditions or tax breaks. I'll start with my local High St hardware shop v Amazon.
martinput1Nobody seems to pay tax anymore. Inland Revenue would have to explain in court why they've chosen to make an exception in pursuing Man City.
Thomas Myerscough1Seriously that club needs going out of business.
The chairman of Manchester City was granted diplomatic immunity in 2020. The investigation into the club began in December 2018. www.ft.com/content/1256...
Todd Kendall5I had no idea this was even possible for a non-diplomat or head of state. 2020 means the Boris Johnson administration; during Covid. So this is Dominic Raab who was Foreign Secretary for the whole of that year. Hopefully someone doorsteps him.
Amanda Sancassani5This is why ‘countries’ should not own sports clubs
cassiej444.bsky.social3Nothing says innocent like getting diplomatic immunity.
Yankel Muromachi2A reasonable person would think diplomatic immunity applied to actions consistent with being a diplomat. Perhaps it should be called diplomatic impunity instead.
Alex Ip 葉清霖41Oh, here's the Donald Trump of football getting away with crimes that would get any of us in this app locked up for decades. The impunity of oligarchs and authoritarians are ruining every aspect of our social lives
Gav Roberts5I'd like to thank Lethal Weapon 2 for making me hear this every time I see the words 'diplomatic immunity' *Legal Disclaimer - I am in no way suggesting Danny Glover should shoot al-Mubarak in the head.
MK Mittell 🦅🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🇺🇦🇵🇸🇹🇼🇦🇲🇽🇰🇬🇱🇩🇰🇲🇽🇨🇦2I want nothing more than Man City to be expelled from the Premier League and unable to rejoin for at least a decade. Give it the equivalent of the death penalty. Utterly ruin the franchise.
Johnny Ninefingers2We san expel diplomats for criminal actions. Some Americans have fled before arraignment.
David Ornstein reports that the legal battle is expanding beyond top-flight teams. Lower-tier clubs are active, appointing lawyers and discussing a potential unprecedented CLASS ACTION lawsuit against Manchester City. If realized, this would be a first in English, European, and world sports history.
Manchester City’s Emirati chair was granted diplomatic immunity six years ago in a move that could complicate any legal action resulting from findings that the Premier League club artificially inflated its finances by more than £900mn. www.ft.com/content/1256...
Family owns club. Family also owns State. Family-owned-State-owned companies sponsor family-owned club, at inflated rates to mask payments by family. Family-owned club cheats League. League cries foul. Family-owned-state-owned-company sues League. Just like in the storybooks.
Loki3Ah football, tis more than just a game.
