Manchester City have been charged with breaching Financial Fair Play regulations by the Premier League, having reportedly committed broken regulations “around 100 times”.
News of the decision by the English top flight broke on Monday morning, 6 February, concluding a four-year investigation by the league, FA and wider footballing bodies.
The club have now been referred to an independent commission over alleged rule breaches committed over nearly a decade-long period following their Abu Dhabi takeover.
According to Sky Sports News‘ Kaveh Solhekol, the Manchester club is alleged to have breached FFP approximately 100 times between 2009 and 2018.
As he explains, City failed to provide “accurate financial information” for at least nine seasons, including not fully disclosing Roberto Mancini’s true salary over a four-year period and failing to comply with UEFA’s financial fair play rules over a five-year period, among various other breaches.
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The Premier League has also accused the organisation of not cooperating since the investigation started back in December 2018 as the club has long denied circumventing the rules in any way throughout the process.
Despite having already been charged by UEFA back in February 2020, when they were slapped with a hefty penalty and a two-year ban from European competitions, the ban was overturned and the £30 million fine was reduced to just £10m.
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According to journalist Martyn Ziegler, this is one of the biggest scandals the Premier League has ever seen, the details of which are highly intricate and unprecedented.
BREAKING: Man City charged by Premier Leaue with numerous breaches of financial rules following a four-year investigation. This is unprecedented: pic.twitter.com/ZGzdX210qP
Ziegler goes on to say that punishment could range from fines and points deductions to even “expulsion from the league”, though it remains unclear how severe the punishment will be.
Furthermore, under Premier League rules, City will not be able to appeal the sanctions in the Court of Arbitration for Sport as they did with the previous ban, so the chances of the decision being brushed off as it was last time seem less likely.
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The club has now issued an official statement insisting that they are “surprised” by the charges “given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with”.
They go on to say that they welcome the continued investigation as they are confident they possess a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of [their] position” and “look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”
However, it doesn’t look like this case will be going away any time soon. This news also comes just a couple of weeks after boasting of earning the most revenue of any club in world football.
BBC Sport‘s Simon Stone insists that the process of prosecution with “will be expensive and it will drag on” for some time as the club will continue to deny the allegations. The charge sheet itself includes five years in which City are accused of refusing to assist with their inquiry despite refuting said claim.
It also goes without saying that since their takeover in 2008 — a year before the offences are said to have begun — City have enjoyed the most successful spell in their history, winning both the Premier League title and League Cup six times, as well as two FA Cups.
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The next few weeks are going to be very interesting, to say the least.
Featured Image — Alfonso Jimenez (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Manchester Storm’s record-breaking return to AO Arena goes down a storm with fans
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Storm have made their grand return to the AO Arena, after more than two decades away from their former home.
And it appears the ice hockey craze (which may have been spurred on by a certain Heated Rivalry) is here to stay, with record-breaking numbers piling into the venue for Sunday’s match against Sheffield Steelers.
The AO Arena has now shared that a record crowd of 11,000 fans attended the long-awaited Manchester Storm homecoming last week.
The action has gone down a storm with fans, with plenty of chatter on social media (and videos of a certain fight) doing the rounds.
Manchester Storm’s homecoming has now smashed the record for an Elite Hockey pre-season fixture, with fans travelling from across Manchester and beyond.
As the team enters this new era, bidding farewell to the ‘Storm Shelter’ in Altrincham that’s been their home for a decade, demand for tickets is continuing to grow.
This is the first time fans have been able to see the club on the ice at the AO Arena since 2004, and last weekend they thrilled supporters with a 5-5 draw agains the Steelers.
Manchester Storm is now set to bring approximately 35 games to the city centre each year, providing a regular programme of major sporting events for Manchester and its visitors.
It also brings elite-level hockey back to one of Europe’s largest indoor sporting arenas.
Gemma Vaughan, General Manager at the AO Arena says, “Tonight is a hugely significant moment for Manchester.
“To welcome Manchester Storm back to their former home after more than 20 years, and to do so in front of a record Elite Hockey League crowd, is incredibly special.
“The response from supporters has demonstrated the strength of Manchester’s passion for ice hockey and the demand for world-class sport in the city. We’re proud to be able to provide a home for the Storm as they begin this exciting new chapter.”
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
Danny Jones -
6th February 2023 
