Manchester city fc

Uefa has launched a formal investigation into Manchester City following the allegations that the club violated financial fair play rules made in the German magazine Der Spiegel and based on “leaked” documents. The most serious allegation was that City disguised investment by the club’s owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al- Nahyan of the Abu Dhabi ruling family, and represented it as sponsorship by the country’s airline, Etihad. The chairman of Uefa’s club financial control body (CFCB), Yves Leterme, said this year that if the allegations published by Der Spiegel are true, and City are found to be in breach of rules and to have deceived Uefa, the “heaviest punishment” possible is “exclusion from Uefa competitions”. Uefa’s FFP rules, intended to encourage clubs not to overspend on players’ wages by making heavy losses bankrolled by an owner, allow sponsorships by companies connected to owners, but only if they are for … [Read more...] about Uefa launches formal investigation into Manchester City’s FFP conduct

Manchester City say they have provided “comprehensive proof” of their innocence to the Uefa body investigating allegations of financial fair play (FFP) irregularities, which could be on the verge of recommending a Champions League ban for the club. Members of Uefa’s club financial control body (CFCB) investigatory chamber (IC) are thought to have expressed a strong view that City should be referred to the adjudicatory chamber (AC) for a final judgment, and to have recommended a Champions League ban if the allegations of misleading Uefa over FFP are proved. The IC chairman and chief investigator, Yves Leterme, a senior Belgian politician and former prime minister, is considering whether he agrees with that view, and will refer the club to the AC, which applies sanctions. IC members are thought to have formed the view, following a formal investigation launched in March, that if the AC concludes that City have misstated their income to Uefa, as alleged, the offence is so … [Read more...] about Manchester City accuse Uefa of leaks amid Champions League ban threat

Earlier this year we asked fans of some of England's yo-yo clubs whether they prefer a season of struggle in the Premier League or one in which they get to enjoy winning more often - and maybe even challenge for promotion - in the Championship. We had a mixed reaction, but these supporters had the luxury of being able to choose between two relatively acceptable scenarios: many others that suffer relegation from the top flight sink faster than lead. Over the course of the Premier League era, relegated teams have had huge range of success in the lower leagues. Many, including Nottingham Forest, Coventry City, Leeds and Derby County have yet to return, but the likes of West Brom, Sunderland, QPR, Southampton and, most successfully, Leicester and Manchester City, have found promotion easier to achieve. There has been no real pattern among relegated teams. In more recent years, though, there has been more of theme that they have followed: one of either immediate success or none at all. … [Read more...] about Why teams now bounce back into the Premier League in their first season – or not at all

Liverpool’s incredible deal for England new-boy Joe Gomez has been further underlined by the fact Charlton Athletic will only receive £250,000 if he starts for the national team. Gomez was called up to the senior squad by England manager Gareth Southgate for the friendlies against Germany and Brazil at Wembley to mark an impressive rise for the defender. Two years ago, Liverpool spent just £3.5 million to sign Gomez from Charlton and beat competition from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City. Just four months after his big move, Gomez suffered a cruciate ligament injury that kept him out for over a year but he has already made 12 appearances for Liverpool this season and has played in the Champions League. Senior figures at Liverpool believe Gomez has the talent to become one of the best defenders in the country and possibly even in Europe, and rate him as one of the club’s biggest bargains in recent years thanks to a release clause in his Charlton … [Read more...] about Joe Gomez England call-up will only earn Charlton £250,000 from Liverpool

Manager Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season was "pretty much impossible" but he is still not getting carried away. Sunday's 3-1 victory over champions Manchester City made it 34 points from a possible 36 and established an eight-point gap over Leicester and Chelsea, with Pep Guardiola's fourth-placed side a further point behind. In that run Liverpool have faced all their so-called 'big six' rivals, plus Leicester. In contrast, City have played just the Reds and Tottenham. "It's just the start, that's how it is, everybody knows that," Klopp told his club's website. "If you would have told me that you can have 34 points (at this stage of the season), wow! It's pretty much impossible but we did it." Klopp is now hoping his players return from international duty fit after forward Mohamed Salah and defender Andy Robertson withdrew from their respective matches with Egypt and Scotland due to ankle injuries. … [Read more...] about Jurgen Klopp staying calm despite Liverpool achieving ‘pretty much impossible’ start