Manchester United Banter 4

29 Sep 2026 00:54:03
Wonder how many more years it will be now for all the City appeals to be heard. Justice whichever it way it falls has to prevail but it hugely taints all competition until then.

As a player how must it be knowing that you are fighting to win a competition and may be denied by a team who may have cheated. You lose a competition to them only later possibly to be told actually you won it. The spontaneous joy and pleasure is taken away from you. Bad enough for us spectators but worse for the players as they only have a short window of their working lives to win something.

If a significant amount of the charges are found to be true they should throw the book at City.

They say power corrupts but so does money and in some countries corruption is viewed as a way of life. It's why I never wanted owners who might come from such societies unless their were safeguards which were really strong.

Even though there will be a sense of gloating about the noisy neighbours it must be awful for the City fans to know that all their success is meaningless if the charges are proved. I don't like them but they don't deserve that. They followed their team to the lower reaches of the leagues and were loyal.

Meantime the City owners are doubling down on their position and apparently saying this will run for ages.

I hope that the Liverpool supporters really show their displeasure and that all clubs do whenever City play. Regardless of their guilt or innocence the silence spoils the league.

One last thing if City were to be relegated and they lost their top stars especially to
teams abroad it would damage English football even more.

The one positive that might just come out of this is that somehow the teams and football authorities agree to cap the ridiculous amounts paid here and abroad as transfer fees. It's not sustenance. Makes it almost impossible for small teams to win leagues and encourages the larger clubs to act arrogantly with no consideration for the lifeblood of the game which is the football pyramid.

29 Sep 2026 09:13:08
Salford i do have a lot of empathy for the long standing city fans. They have been let down and cheated on just as badly as the other clubs on an emtional front.
I have read the any punishments can be administered before or during an appeal and them removed if an appeal is successful so they can act now which will then put a time frame on any appeal decision.

The verdict was leaked so that in itself is another legal minefield.
I really think it should be as severe as a 90 point deduction for the next 10 times they compete in the epl effectively ensuring any time they get promoted they will suffer relegation the following season. All titles removed. A ten year transfer ban on incoming players.

Pay all epl competitors during their time 30m each pay a 100m fine to the league. This will put them out of the competitve arena for 20 plus years.
The carnage that would ensue if that sort of pu ishment was administered. Fines of over 1 billion no hope for 20 plus years, players wanting out asap, and having to develop your own players - no new signings for 10 seasons.

I think they would find themselves in division 3 at best in 10 years time.
I don't expect they will be anything as severe as that or as long lasting but that would be my hope.
Can it go to a members vote to expel then from the epl either for a period or permenantly?

29 Sep 2026 09:48:17
Just expel them from the leagues and be done with it. Move on, simples.

29 Sep 2026 11:39:46
Yep agree, big points deduction soon along with transfer ingoing transfer bans, huge fine. Then City can take as long as they want to appeal.

29 Sep 2026 14:10:08
The Premier League now has a very tricky situation to navigate. Whatever sanction is ultimately imposed on City has to take into account not only the seriousness of the alleged breaches, but also the clubs that have competed against them during this period and the wider integrity of the competition.

A hefty fine alone, IMO, wouldn't be satisfactory. Given City's financial resources, I would expect that to be the outcome they would be most comfortable with if they had any say in the matter. A financial penalty can be absorbed, it doesn't necessarily address the competitive advantage that may have been gained or provide any meaningful sense of accountability.

There's also the wider issue of what happens if City are relegated or face points deductions. Any punishment inevitably has consequences for the leagues they could potentially be sent into, so the Premier League has to consider the knock on effects as well.

Personally, what I would like to see is the ownership situation addressed. If the evidence ultimately establishes deliberate rule breaking to gain a competitive advantage, then I think the owners should be removed from the club, or at the very least suspension while the final verdict and outcome are determined.

The Premier League cannot realistically have a situation where owners who are found to have deliberately broken its rules to gain an advantage over other clubs simply carry on as normal after the punishment is handed down.

Whatever the final sanction is, it needs to be about more than just putting a number on a fine. It needs to restore confidence that the same rules apply to every club, regardless of how wealthy or powerful its owners are.

30 Sep 2026 00:37:35
I can't see them doing anything that would destroy the club for a lengthy period (ie banning them from 'the leagues' is being mentioned a lot). Nor an immediate relegation as that would throw the fixture list into chaos lol. A huge fine, and because that won't hurt them, a huge points deduction that will certainly prevent them qualifying for Europe and have them trying to remain in the division and probably failing.

Most of the squad vowing to play for free for a season in the championship then immediate promotion. The end.

28 Sep 2026 20:12:47
Just a question for the editors, and anyone else that may know a bit more about it.

Obviously it is between 2009 and 2018 that City have been alleged and now proven to have been cheating with how they have financed their spending. But that spending doesn't only affect the seasons in which they spent that money. For example Kevin de Bruyne was signed in 2016, but played for City for 10 years until 2025.

As a result, he played a major part in the City team that won league titles in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The same can be said for Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and Ederson.

What right do other Premier League clubs have to ask the Premier League to look at league titles won since 2018 on the basis that it was their spending whilst they were cheating that allowed them to build that squad and achieve that sustained success later down the line?

Obviously it would be difficult to make any judgement, but for my money it is incredibly clear that those titles are equally as tarnished as any they won during the 2009-2018 period.

{Ed001's Note - it would be incredibly difficult, but there is certainly a few considering that.}

29 Sep 2026 09:59:24
I'm finding it difficult to believe the epl has not prepared any punishments for City; they have had the best part of 2.5 years to decide upon appropriate action for a guilty conclusion to the charges they accused city of.

For me they have to throw the book at them, severe action is a must. Expelled from the league, titles stripped, huge huge fine and basically leaving city to face many individual compensation claims.

28 Sep 2026 13:34:39
Question for Ed001 if he is about regarding City.
Could all Premier League clubs for the affected years past and present be entitled to a pay out based on different financial rewards for each individual place a club finishes in the Premier League? Those clubs other than missed CL spot or relegated.
There were rumours a few months ago that the biggest clubs, most likely affected eg Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea etc were putting together £100+ million compensation packages each.


For all the amounts of these and other clubs say totalling to several hundred Million or even a £1+ Billion lawsuit for financial damages, City will have to find that money from the clubs revenue also?
They can't just inject that money into the club as they will have just as big an issue if not greater.
Most players will have to be sold including assets.

{Ed001's Note - that is going to be the big problem facing the Premier League now. This will get extremely messy. There is no clear resolution to this.

28 Sep 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - KingCarlos has posted a new article entitled, Manchester City and Alleged Rule Breaches

28 Sep 2026 10:06:52
Not 'alleged', they've been proven and found to be guilty.

28 Sep 2026 13:02:51
Exactly. The case against City had been adjudicated and they have been found guilty - and guilty they will remain unless somehow they can exonerate themselves. They have a slim chance of proving the verdict was wrong on the facts, or that the facts as established, do not constitute a breach of the regulations, . or that somehow there has been malfeasance by the independent panel. An assurance of innocence by the Company is as one expect, but is as about as reliable per se as a pronouncement by Trump.

Assuming the appeal is unsuccessful, it could indeed open up a Pandora's box. Beyond actions by other clubs and/or by HMRC etc, could it actually adversely affect the EPL in its entirety?

We will all wait with bated breath to hear what the penalties will be. (As an aside I always thought it was spelled "baited" as in a fishhook but found out today it's yet another phrase coined by Shakespeare, bated being an abbreviation of abated.")

28 Sep 2026 15:35:39
It really is a tough one to judge what the initiel epl punishments might be.
If for example have been 30 teams with them in the epl during that period the epl migjt try to broker a deal whereby city pays a fine to each of them say 30m if they waive any further actions.

Plus a league fine, plus what has to be imo 90 point deduction for the next 10 occasions they compete in the epl thus ensuring the next 10 times they won promotion they will effectively be relegated the following season. Taking then out of the competitive areana for 20 years plus.

27 Sep 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Bournemouth v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

26 Sep 2026 23:26:03
28.57%

That's 'Carrick at the Wheel's or as I will start to abbreviate CATW, win percentage this season.

Yes, forget last season everyone, as it doesn't matter a tosh for what is happening this season.

Win against Spurs and we jump to 37.5%! Lose, and we drop to 25%.

Why does this matter?

It is the stick that was used to beat down Amorim and that ultimately got him sacked. So let's repeat the process to ensure this season isn't totally written off.

Coincidentally, Amorim's win percentage after 7 games in his final season was 28.57%.

26 Sep 2026 23:45:38
28.57% 😂

You've somehow managed to turn seven games of football into a mathematical case for sacking a manager, while simultaneously pretending context doesn't matter.

"Forget last season, it doesn't matter" followed immediately by comparing this season to Amorim's record from last season. Outstanding.

And the really brilliant bit is using a percentage after seven games as though you've uncovered some damning statistical trend rather than a microscopic sample size that changes dramatically with one result.
Lose to Spurs and it's 25%. Beat them and it's 37.5%. So apparently the manager's competence can fluctuate by 12.5 percentage points depending on one football match. Groundbreaking analysis.

If you're going to use CATW as your abbreviation, I think for you, Can't Analyse The Whole picture or, Calculating A Tiny Window is better.

You've taken seven games, removed all context, cherry-picked a comparison, and then congratulated yourself for finding a pattern.

That's not analysis, that's just a calculator having an argument.

Ed Woodward would be proud of these numbers 😂

At this rate you'll be putting #GlazersOut in your bio while simultaneously doing their recruitment for them!

"Don't worry lads, I've found the manager's win percentage after seven games. Get the P45 ready.".

27 Sep 2026 00:39:50
JBR and in the first match this year he had 0% win rate. I understand you make all these because the Anti-Amorim kept saying in every match how bad the precedence of our winning was. But let it go mate.

27 Sep 2026 03:47:46
Yes Ports..the same way the anti Amorim gang couldn't see the bigger picture..
The irony of your counter arguments is the groundbreaking stuff here, champ.

I'm of course taking the Michael out of the anti-amorim brigade here Heaven, they will take their stupid arguments to their grave.

When that klan accept they f'ked up by pressing for his removal, I'll stop the same campaign for the removal of Carrick, but only if he wins against Spurs.

There can't be a United fan alive that accepts he continues if we lose to Spurs. Even the most delusional..

27 Sep 2026 11:20:21
JBR, what was Amorim's win percentage in his first season?

27 Sep 2026 08:36:37
The irony is you accusing others of not seeing the "bigger picture" while reducing an entire managerial debate to "he must win the next game or he goes." That isn't the bigger picture, that's a football "fan" having a tantrum.

You're so Pro Glazer you've even got Glazer mentality. Sack the bloke, move on, repeat the cycle, and pretend that's a long-term football strategy.

27 Sep 2026 11:58:12
So you are doing the same thing with Carrick that you complain others did with Amorim lol, it doesn't make sense.

Amorims win rate was below part bordering on awful. If Carricks win rate gets that bad this season, he will also be sacked, its how it works at the top level of football.

27 Sep 2026 13:34:56
Ports, 👏 on some awesome points.

That's not analysis, that's just a calculator having an argument

That isn't the bigger picture, that's a football "fan" having a tantrum.

JBR, I am happy to bebate with you but you are over-emotional about this. Our start has been awful and Carrick need to fix it, if he doesn't I expect he will be another lamb tothe slaughter and we will rinse and repeat. But it doesn't change the root causes that still need to be addressed.

27 Sep 2026 19:12:40
Gents I am simply repeating what the anti Amorim Klan did all last season until he got sacked.

Not one of you accepted it when people like myself tried to calm you and suggest there was a bigger picture at play with Amorim.

It was draining to try and debate this with you then, but now I'm just going to have fun with this until Carrick is gone. That isn't pro glazer. That is me simply repeating what the majority of the people commenting did last season with Amorim.

I actually want Spurs to beat us now.

27 Sep 2026 21:03:36
It is genuinely remarkable watching the intellectual gymnastics unfold here.

Ports accuses me of having a "Glazer mentality" and relying on a "microscopic sample size", while others claim I'm making no sense by holding Carrick to this standard. The collective amnesia here is staggering.

Let's talk about the real irony:

1. The Sudden Discovery of "Patience" and "Context"

When Ruben Amorim was trying to implement a complete tactical overhaul and build a long-term structural identity, where was this nuanced lecturing about "sample sizes", "the bigger picture", and "fluctuating percentages"? It didn't exist. Week after week, the anti-Amorim brigade flooded this board armed with microscopic weekly win percentages, dissecting every point dropped and demanding his head without granting him a shred of patience.

Now, suddenly, holding a manager accountable to the exact same cold, hard numbers is deemed "a calculator having an argument". You weaponised early-season percentages to hound Amorim out the door; you don't now get to appeal to patience just because your favoured safe option is staring at a 28.57% win rate. I am simply holding up the mirror to the exact precedent you set.


2. The Incompetence of Recruitment Left Us Here

This entire mess exists because of upper management's classic dilly-dallying. While serious European clubs move with conviction, our board dragged their heels, procrastinated, and dithered throughout the recruitment process last year. What happened? Top-tier, progressive managerial candidates were snapped up by competent clubs, leaving us backed into a corner with virtually no elite options left on the table.

Michael Carrick wasn't appointed because he was the visionary architect of an elite modern project; he was appointed because management boxed themselves in and settled for an underwhelming, familiar default.


3. Who the Real "Glazerites" Actually Are
Accusing me of "doing the recruitment for the Glazers" is classic projection.

A Glazerite isn't someone holding a manager to elite standards. A Glazerite is someone who:

Complacently accepts managerial compromises born out of boardroom dithering.

Normalises mediocrity because the face in the dugout is an affable ex-player.

Preaches endless, blind patience for unproven internal appointments after actively sabotaging high-calibre managers trying to impose elite structural demands.

You helped create the conditions that binned Amorim, swallowed the boardroom's botched managerial search without question, and are now defending a 28.57% win rate under the guise of "calmness". That isn't backing the club—that is being completely complicit in the Glazer-era standard of accepting whatever scrap the hierarchy hands you.

If holding Carrick to the exact standard you demanded of Amorim makes you uncomfortable, don't blame the mirror. Blame your own double standards.

Peace out.

27 Sep 2026 21:03:51
"I actually want Spurs to beat us now" line is a real giveaway to what sort of fan you are. You're not interested in the bigger picture, you're desperate for a result that proves your internet argument right. Supporting United is secondary to winning a debate with people on a forum.

Congratulations: you've gone from "look at the bigger picture" to "I hope United lose so I can say I told you so."

That's not the moral high ground, mate. That's just being a professional clown with a scoreboard obsession. 😂.

27 Sep 2026 21:09:44
You want United to lose!

Jog on champ.

27 Sep 2026 21:48:05
I knew that would get you Keefy 😜.

27 Sep 2026 22:28:18
Had some help on that post JBR? Sentences aren't as constructed as your previous ones 😉.

27 Sep 2026 22:50:13
I don't engage with hypocrisy Ports. You're top of the pile of Glazerites. That overview is you and your Klan down to a tee.

It will hurt for you to read it because it is the truth.

Digest it, look in the mirror, come back to me and tell me what you see.

I know what I see.

27 Sep 2026 23:43:59
Huh? Use ChatGPT again JBR, At least that post was constructed to be understood 😂.

28 Sep 2026 06:50:19
People using stats for the Amorim argument did so after he'd been in charge for at least a season.

They also didn't cherry pick a 7 game window which you've conveniently done to mask the overall much better win percentage.

How you think the win percentage of a Man United manager (or any top 6 club) isn't a yard stick to rate them is beyond senseless.

Your "eyes" argument is basically just "trust me bro". The fact of the matter is, he wasn't winning enough games after an 18 month period in charge to justify continuing the experiment or risk ploughing another few hundred mil of players in for a system only he seems to operate.

28 Sep 2026 07:00:27
Carrick was sacked by a lower division club for not being good enough for them.
Carrick has no other relevant experience other than the sack
Carrick is displaying exactly what fans of the lower division club said he would.
Carrick is only in place because he once played for us during a successful period.
Carrick is not a United level manager.

I don't want Spurs to win, I always want United to win, however, if Spurs do win, are we in a relegation battle already?

Stats mean little but Carrick is not the man and the sooner the club and some fans see that the better.

28 Sep 2026 09:24:24
I don't think anyone's saying Carrick is "the" man for the job, I'm certainly on the fence as I was with Amorim.

But we cannot keep throwing inept managers at the job without getting a grip of the total playing group across all age groups, including recruitment. We as a group call for managers heads but it will surely be the same for anyone that comes in

I do not know the answer so am standing in the shadows rather than voicing an incorrect opinion and enjoying some of the more vociferous chats!

28 Sep 2026 10:23:42
Well put Redman.

For the record, I clearly do not want us to lose to Spurs, but winning would only mask over the dross that we have at present.

28 Sep 2026 09:58:15
Trueredman, here's the thing you are missing. If Amorim hadn't got himself sacked, then they would have continued with the 'experiment' and we would have more likely have seen the removal of Wilcox from his role.

There was a lot of heat on Amorim from the people who kept muttering the win percentage and were unable to see the bigger picture.

The clearout of players (Sancho, garnacho, Rashford etc).
The playing style having an end goal, not this constant drivel served up by Carrick and his coaches
Fitness levels we have not seen for a while

Etc etc etc.

This is the whole point people are missing.

We now have a reversal of all the good things Amorim brought to the club, all because of the Glazerites and their statistics Klan.

29 Sep 2026 06:01:43
Getting rid of some bad apples and having the players fit are a pretty low bar for a manager aren't they?

Fact remains he wasn't winning anywhere near enough games for a Man United manager.

It's totally fair that you're not convinced by Carrick, but claiming Amorim was the one is so delusional and you can't even back it up with anything.

Attacking people for using his win rate is ridiculous, of course you assess performance on that. Esp someone who had been in charge as long as Amorim had.

29 Sep 2026 10:20:35
But he wasn't backed Trueredman. he wanted Baleba in the window he had his outburst, we wouldn't/couldn't get him and we buy him a few months later. Make that make sense.

Back to the win rate debacle. One, I am not attacking anyone and two, that is what I am assessing Carrick on. His win rate is awful.

On top of that
He has ruined the fitness of the squad built up by Amorim
He has removed any form of playing identity from the squad
He has unsuccessfully reintroduced one of the most disruptive players we have had across the last decade

I have given multiple reasons why Amorim was heading towards a success.

It is a pity the Glazerites got their way and he imploded and we are where we are.

CATW.

Provide just one reason why Carrick should stay on. Just one.

26 Sep 2026 17:17:40
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Bournemouth v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

26 Sep 2026 14:03:33
ED001,

I'm sure you probably already been asked this, but what would you like to see happen to City.

Realistically, what are you expecting will happen in terms of points deductions, fines, titles stripped and potentially relegation?

Personally, i think they will be given a hefty points deduction, which will ultimately put them in a relegation battle for the remainder of the season - it is the easiest and most convenient way to relegated City.

I'd certainly expect a large fine and a transfer ban for a number of windows.

Consequently, this has opened up a huge can of worms. Clubs will certainly seek compensation etc. The knock on effect og this could be astronomical.

{Ed001's Note - I would like to see them kicked down to non-league football, the owners forced to sell and all titles stripped.

What I am expecting is a large fine and points deduction. Maybe a limited transfer ban, but I would expect they will have trouble enforcing a full one as players are likely to leave in droves if the points deduction is as much as it should be.}

26 Sep 2026 17:58:11
History books should not be kind to this type of systemic cheating. All titles stripped.

The owners/directors should now fail the proper person test (or whatever its called). I don't know if they can be forced to sell but they should not be allowed own a football club.

Points deduction that sends them down and a very long transfer ban should do the trick.

Any more fined, should be redistributed to lower league clubs.

Also on a side note, Omar should be put on leave until this is resolved. Either he was complicit in this at City or he didn't know and he's not good at his job. Either way, he should go.

The ripple effect of this is astronomical. I know we've been a meme club for awhile but we could have had a few more titles. Liverpool under Klopp would have absolutely dominated if City weren't cheating.

The more I think about it, the more I think the club should be wound up.

26 Sep 2026 19:43:11
Personal opinion but I don't think the punishment can be that severe that it destroys the value of Manchester city football club as it will become a bigger political/geopolitical issue.

They are owned effectively by the United Arab Emirates who are a key ally of the United Kingdom in the region. Also large parts of the UK are reliant on foreign direct investment, like Canary Wharf, large parts of which are owned by Qatar. So don't think the UK government will want to show that they are hostile to foreign owners of UK assets.

Some of these charges also relate to inflated sponsorship deals by UAE state owned companies like "Etihad".

26 Sep 2026 20:19:18
I don't really care what affect it has on the country and if this punishment is more lenient because of politics then it's a total joke. They've cheated, like Lance Armstrong all of their trophies and titles now mean absolutely nothing.

Enjoyed the chairman coming out saying they will prove they are innocent, it's too late for that, you're already guilty. 114 times. You aren't getting away with 114 guilty verdicts on appeal.

Relegate them, wind them up. Everything about them is fake and hollow.

26 Sep 2026 22:27:46
Should Berrada face consequences for his time at City?

26 Sep 2026 23:18:52
Should Arteta?

27 Sep 2026 09:39:19
I will only be satisfied if Citeh are expelled from the EPL. How they negotiate a way back from non league football is their business.

I'd go as far as to say that, if that isn't the case, I will give up on pro football entirely. Bent as can be otherwise.

26 Sep 2026 13:06:15
City need to be harshly punished of course but something else I would like to see this whole episode lead to ( won't happen no doubt ), is a major review and changes in respect of football ownership, transfer fees, wages etc. The Premier League is a completely out of control runaway train and something needs to change.


I read the other day that PL clubs spent more on transfer fees in the summer window than the next 8 leagues put together. That can't be good for football.

26 Sep 2026 14:47:57
Yes, good luck with that. You are dealing with winner take all end times capitalism. Fueled by massive and successive injections of fiat currency debt, abetted by under-regulated corporate law, the very rich are making out like banshees, controlling politicians, bending the financial system and the law to their megalomanic interests.

Democratic governments have become largely powerless. Both Manchester clubs are examples of the same malaise, one massive petro-state owned, the other a debt laden vehicle divorced from the product that spawned it. Trump, Infantino are great examples of the corruption at the heart of football and our current reality.

The house of cards will crumble rather than be reformed.

26 Sep 2026 11:35:53
Interesting bit of history here: Citeh have actually been through something vaguely similar before.

In 1906 they were found to have been making illegal payments to players, including Billy Meredith. The fallout was huge, players and directors were suspended, the team was effectively broken up, and Meredith and others ended up at United. Guardiola come on down.

If the current findings are as serious as being reported, I can't see an Everton/Forest-style points deduction being enough.

I think there are probably two routes.

One is a record points deduction, potentially large enough to relegate them. The problem then is that one season in the Championship hardly feels proportionate if the breaches were systemic over nearly a decade.

The cleaner option may be expulsion from the Premier League, which would then leave their future league membership largely in the hands of the EFL. I could easily see League Two being considered rather than simply dropping them into the Championship. A championship ship like Wrexham for example have a much lower chance of promotion next season if Citeh are there.

The difficult bit is maintaining the integrity of this Premier League season while the process plays out. A substantial points deduction now, followed by expulsion at the end of the season, is one possible solution I like and Citeh restart in League 2.

I'd also want historic titles from the affected period to be removed at a minimum, with reassignment potentially considered where there was an obvious runner-up. United would gain two Premier League titles. SAF +1, Mou +1. In ready for the bus parade seriously.

Then you've got compensation claims from clubs who lost prize money, European qualification and other revenue. I could see the Premier League trying to create some kind of central compensation mechanism rather than allowing dozens of separate claims to drag on for years. That in itself could do Citeh in. Think West Ham/Tevez/Sheff Utd.

Finally, the squad becomes another huge issue. I'd be surprised if top players don't have contractual protection around relegation, expulsion or loss of European football, this specie case, so Citeh could end up dealing with a major squad break-up as well.

🍿.

26 Sep 2026 12:17:32
A large points reduction, this season, sufficient to relegate them.

Follow this by annual points reductions for the next, set number, of seasons, say 4 or 5. Don't let the pain be over quickly as that would not reflect the longevity of their rule breaking, and they could absorb a 12 month punishment without too much difficulty. Also I suspect they would retain their players.

Strict limits as to wages they can pay over the same time period. We would then see how 'loyal' many of their players are too the 'project'.

26 Sep 2026 12:21:04
Utd Road, something I haven't seen mentioned and not sure on if it's something that can be enforced but surely they'll owners should have to sell up?!

26 Sep 2026 12:27:52
Forgot to include. watch a live feed of Pep eating a very large sh**e sandwich, following his very public backing of the management.

26 Sep 2026 14:24:05
Ports - you're on to something there.

The new gov regulations allow the IFR to review existing owners vs fit and proper standards.

26 Sep 2026 14:24:59
Iwotb - EPL can't deduct points on EFL clubs.

26 Sep 2026 16:11:37
Utd Road, yes, sorry, points cannot be deducted on EFL by EPL as you say.

I did not present it right. The assumption being they would come straight back up from Championship and the future points deductions would then come into play. Effectively ruling them out of a title challenge for a set number of years.

Clearly, there is no punishment precedent here (never been such rule breaking) so it is all very much up in the air as to what punishment will be levied. Think it will have to be substantial to retain any credibility in whatever system is in place.

28 Sep 2026 20:00:24
Massive points to deduction this season, enough to comfortably relegate them, perhaps 80 points. Then, given they have been proven to have been cheating for 9 straight years, I would also like to see a further points deduction for the next 9 years that they compete in the Premier League, perhaps 20 points per season, which would effectively prevent them winning the Premier League.

I would also expect them to have all their titles from this period stripped, although I don't necessarily support awarding titles to the team that finished in second place, since it isn't possible to know which results would've been different if City had not been cheating and spending far more than the rules allowed.

Finally, I would expect them to have to pay a significant compensation package to every team that competed in the Premier League during those years, for every season affected. For exmaply any club that competed in the Premier League for all 9 seasons would be awarded 9 separate compensation packages, and any club that perhaps only competed in the Premier League for 1 season would be awarded 1 compensation package.

Naturally, it should also be higher compensation packages for teams that missed out on Champions League or Europa League places by one position in any given season, and higher compensation packages for teams that were relegated in 18th place at any point. Lower compensation packages for teams that can only reasonably claim that they finished one position below where they might have finished if City had not been able to spend as much as they did.

Finally, it is only logical that they must pay an enormous fine to the Premier League, since their actions have not just tarnished those seasons in which they competed and broke competition rules, but also tarnished the Premier League as a global brand.

Doubtless there are harsh punishments, but they deliberately cheated for 9 seasons, so they should be punished for at least 9 seasons, and they should be forced to compensate all parties that their cheating has affected.