Of Power and Influence
FAN VIEW
Manchester City had enormous influence over the Premier League and other clubs. Along with three or four others they have held sway in the room. If found guilty, the punishments should be harsh but the Premier League bear a measure of responsibility as well.
Incredibly, Manchester City have been found guilty of almost all the charges laid against them. It's incredible because for so many years they have done what they like, ignored the rules, held significant power within the Premier League and, consequently, on decisions made that ensured they (and others) pulled up the drawbridge to effectively ensure no one could challenge their standing. The Premier League itself has been built on the success of City and a handful of others, but it is now totally undermined by their rule-breaking of staggering proportions.
It's not just the 115 charges, it’s the handling of Chelsea’s rule-breaking, of the enormous debts of some clubs, of rules such as PSR and now SCR that ensure that the dominance of the richest clubs could never be threatened by those clubs who aspired to be winners. Winning now for most Premier League clubs is staying in the league, success is a Champions League place aspiration. It is a condemnation of the Premier League itself. The power and influence of those clubs who have been the flagships of the League itself must now be in question.
And part of that reason is, perversely, because of the actions the league-sanctioned commission has taken against Everton and then, less so, with Nottingham Forest. A monster was created that ended up with 40,000 fans holding up cards that simply said “Corrupt”; now that monster has turned on its flagship and a precedent has been set. The Premier League may have pandered to Chelsea in merely fining them for previous misdemeanours — and just how they can justify the amount of fines and no sanctions was disgraceful alone — this is, allegedly, fraudulent a different level. This will not and cannot end in a good way for City.
This will not end in a good way for Richard Masters and Co. The influence City have had over and above others may well not be documented but it will be there. They had enormous influence over the Premier League and other clubs, the wealth, the pressure to agree, to accept their views. They had real Power and Influence in decision making. Along with three or four others they have held sway in the room. It would be denied, of course, but I doubt any protestations from the likes of Hull City would carry favour against the same top four.
We await the outcome, but this cannot be just a fine. This cannot just be a points deduction. They way they have acted has brought the game into dispute, hugely, totally, and undermined the very competition, its rules and its hierarchy. They have cheated on a monumental scale that should not only break the club but also the undermine the foundations of the Premier League.
Both will no longer be seen the same way. Masters and Co. must bear some responsibilities. Why weren’t charges laid when they were originally discovered some 9 years ago and subsequently in each and every year since? Forest and Everton were hit immediately with singular charges, no totting up to a hundred before action taken. The PL were at fault for this without question, but it also shows the political convenience of attempting to scapegoat Everton to show teeth in the face of possible government regulation. It’s come back to haunt them. Massively.
Any attempt to treat City with kid gloves when it comes to sanctions has gone; comparisons to Everton’s points deductions ‘pale into insignificance’
What should the outcome be?
- It should be the end of Manchester City as a Premier League club.
- It should be the end of Manchester City as a Championship club.
- They should spend a set number of years outside of the Championship and Premier League with the right of automatic promotion removed.
- The Premier League should replace its management immediately. They have failed fans, failed football and failed City who should never have been allowed to do what they did.
Money is nothing to City. They have had the world’s best footballers many of us have ever seen, but they didn’t play by the rules like everyone else had to. They thought they were above it. They aren’t. I am hugely surprised that City have been found guilty of almost all the charges despite having the best money could buy defending them.
The Premier League should be reworked, reconstructed, relaunched with different structures and rules. Despite the condemnation there is an opportunity to rebuild the trust of fans across the world.
Football is not just a business, its much, much, more.
Will it happen?
No. But it should.
There is no comparison to the Everton case other than it was a singular unintentional breach versus a well-organised thought through, ongoing desire to fund a team by fair means or foul that numbered over 100 intentional breaches. They knew what they where doing. Everton didn’t; they were just incompetent. Man City are a well-run club, just not within the rules, they ran the club as they saw fit to circumvent the rules. As such they planned and executed a strategy of deceit. Their fans have enjoyed the success it brought and make no mistake City as a team have been brilliant, but that team and subsequent ones would not have existed if they stayed within the rules. The titles, cups and all the money brought power and influence on football, players desires to join them, player who left their clubs to join them, the influence worldwide. All bought. Just not within the rules according to the independent commission./p>
I have no doubt the PL have sat on this one for a long time. The sanctions have probably all been discussed, as has the repercussions to themselves and football. I doubt they will even consider the repercussions on City. But the PL are as culpable, they knew they were not getting answers a long time ago and no charges where brought. Why? This is now a full blown clusterfuck and it could have been avoided. They chose to give them the leeway and consideration they did not show to other clubs.
I hope the City fans have enjoyed the ride as the repercussions don’t end there. Other clubs are allegedly lining up to claim against them, bolstered by (a stupid ruling) Burnley’s case against Everton. Financially this could ruin City and send them into the football wilderness, strip them of their titles and ruin their reputation.
One rule for one and all has to be applied correctly, the Premier League, Masters and Co will not survive a whitewash on sanctions. Dismantle the rules and start again.
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers28/09/2026 09:29:39
Hi Tony, I have an addendum to my article as the BBC have laid out, as they understand it, a number of scenarios that may be taken.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cw3d77ne44k5o
Essentially lays out four possible scenarios with regards to the timing of any sanction disclosure in various disguises to mitigate damage one assumes.
It's too late.
I understand the complexities and ramifications of any decision but the geni is out of the bottle. The implications of those guilty verdicts begin now. Every match is tainted, every result at question. Such enormity of deceit requires the forfeit all points, be suspended from the competition until a final decision is reached. If they are allowed to continue playing then they compound every point they take. Imagine if City won the title from Liverpool by one point, after beating them next week, or Arsenal or any club. Imagine Coventry are relegated because of a loss to City on the last day of the season.
They should be suspended until a decision on the future is made. It's that important to the Premier League, it's reputation and every other team in that league.
Ps.. thanks for the comments Tony, I think that's my first article I've written for over a year. Somethings just need saying.
28/09/2026 10:58:16
Superb article Christine, this should be nominated for a fan award. I have no doubt the PL made this decision some time ago but were absolutely petrified of the consequences for the PL but more so for their own futures and reputations. Masters has a tough time ahead!!
28/09/2026 11:37:23
This could run and run but it wont if the Prem. League has its way, the sooner they bury it the better they will like it. It appears to be blatant cheating not small over spends which can happen for various reasons.
It should lead to relegation like Saracens were in RU a few seasons ago, their crime was the same, back handers etc to give them unfair advantage.
We will see happens with interest, but I think it will be watered down penalties such as large fines and points penalties. They will not want to lose the money City generate. Kieran Fitz. was the first to mention it yesterday it could also lead to the owners selling the club, they should be deemed not fit and proper people to run the club.
28/09/2026 11:42:43
Christine, this all only came to light because someone hacked City's computer system. Unless City start naming names, I don't know how an investigation into another club could br launched.
Sets of accounts are cooked so thoroughly, it's nigh on impossible to catch anyone without a whistle blower.
Perhaps if agents, players, solicitors or accountancy firms get discarded in a way that upsets them, then maybe you may get a base of "I'll show you then." Clubs may need to cover their tracks even further, or may need to launder all the illegal activity clean, and this may cause upset as a result.
I wrote a response to Lyndon's article that to some degree the PL were damned if they do, damned if they don't. Perhaps they decided it was time to poop or get off the pot. I think they may already have had a strategy in place to cover themselves before announcing the charges results.
28/09/2026 13:41:09
I saw that Kieran # 5. A young Portuguese computer whizz has been exposing football corruption and managed to hack into Man City's IT systems, get hold of damning material and then publish it. It has not gone well for him. Arrested in Budapest, trials in France and Portugal and currently in witness protection.
He seems to be football's Julian Assange and it is a serious warning to anyone else out there who might be tempted to try anything similar.
I agree with you by the way Christine, your excellent article outlines what should happen in a just and fair world. However, we do not live in a just and fair world. Especially when it comes to football.
Football is more than just a business, it is a front for international corruption, shady politics and reputation washing of individuals and whole regimes - and it gets away with it because fans love their football clubs. No matter how bad you are, if you pump money into a football club - you immediately become "good" in the eyes of a large proportion of fans.
Whatever "should" happen, it seems very unlikely to me that City's punishment will be anything like proportionate to the crime. I am guessing a points deduction likely to see them relegated to the Championship (either this season or next), a transfer ban for a season or two and a fine. The fine obviously doesn't hurt them. The rest of the punishment sets them back 2 or 3 seasons - that is all. Not a bad price to pay for cheating your way to a dynasty of titles and trophies.
The bigger issue for them might be compensation claims from other clubs - which could start to hurt them financially and (due to the complexity and duration) operationally. However, how many of clubs out there that might bring a claim are truly confident they are "clean"?
Not many.
If City are backed into a corner on this, they have the financial might and international influence to come out fighting. I mentioned in the thread for Lyndon's article that City could (behind the scenes) threaten to blow everything wide open if pushed.
If we were to go on the offensive - how many of us are 100% confident that Moshiri and Usmanov would look squeaky clean under further scrutiny? Moshiri was the owner in name, certainly - but where did the stadium money really come from? Were sanctions rules really abided by? Do you want to risk exposing that - or do you keep quiet?
The same thought will be going through the heads of those in charge of Premier League clubs past and present and the big boys across Europe: PSG, Real, Barca etc etc.
I've mentioned quite a few times on these pages that refereeing in the Premier League is clearly not fair. Well Real and Barca take it to a whole next level in La Liga. This doesn't just start and finish with City, not by a long chalk. So my expectation is that the football establishment closes ranks, cuts a deal to punish City for presentational purposes to maintain some sense of integrity and then the whole thing is brushed under the carpet.
28/09/2026 13:55:02
Robert, a better question to ask at present might be how many other clubs are guilty, and sweating on City's appeal outcome. The answer may well be the last two lines in your response above.
I do think, and I mentioned it in response to Lyndon's article, that the infrastructure at City can probably cope with the club being relegated. The top players may going a fire sale, but the squad in general, and the Academy. Could easily cope with a promotion push. Revenue, and commercial deals may suffer slightly, but the club will easily manage once back in the PL. It would easily still attract players once any transfer ban is lifted.
28/09/2026 14:28:51
Kieran # 7, I expect the answer to your question is "all of them, to a greater or lesser degree". I include Everton in that too. The ramifications of all this could put a question mark over our lovely new stadium that we waited so long for.
I also agree with you about City's fortunes in the Championship. Even West Ham have managed to keep Jarrod Bowen and a good core of their Premier League side - and will surely bounce back at the first attempt. I suspect City would lose a few stars but most will remain on contract and suck it up for a season. The Championship is at least as strong overall as the league in, say, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands etc so I don't think established players would be too worried about their international status.
Donnarumma, Enzo, Cherki, Doku and Haaland would be their main worries.
28/09/2026 15:19:26
As soon as I saw the title and the author of this piece. I knew it was a coffee and bar of Cadbury's job.
An truly excellent piece Christine. All that time away hasn't diminished the chilling accuracy with which you go for the jugular.
You can take the girl out of scottie.....
28/09/2026 16:45:02
Robert, the standard complaint for clubs around trying to offload players may work in City's favour. Where else are you going to get the wages stated in your City contract.
While Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea may look to cherry pick one ir two players, many may well end up staying. For weekly wages in the hundreds of thousands I'd play in the nip in the Sunday league. (Sorry Christine, you can get your own back with my next article.)
Haaland would be a big loss. If he ended up staying in England, say at Arsenal or Liverpool, it would be a major coup for them, and salt rubbed in the wound for City.
28/09/2026 18:03:03
It's interesting to see how the media has reacted to the unofficial disclosure (leaks) of the guilty verdicts, it's pretty much condemnation across the board until you come to Skysport who have taken a different tack by implying the very leaks could give City the opportunity to take the case to the high court!
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13592852/manchester-city-charges-everything-we-know-so-far-about-premier-league-allegations-and-what-happens-from-here
It's a supportive piece of the Premier League and the absence of any statement from them. It is a private matter it says.
Bullocks. It ceased to be a private matter immediately the leak came out. The significance of the implications of this verdicts make any such comment of confidentially worthless at best.
Confidentially went out the window with the Geni when it escaped.
No one has said where the leak came from, who done it or why..that's what should be asked. What was the motivation behind the leak? (Please tell me it was Everton) someone stuck two fingers up at Masters.. I wonder who?
28/09/2026 18:06:21
That makes sense Kieran. Who could realistically afford to buy Haaland who has room for him?
Real have Mbappe already and are already struggling to find a space for £100m(+) Diomande.
Barca would take him but probably can't afford him (unless they risk their own financial misdemeanours).
PSG have the money but he might upset the balance of the team - since they don't use a striker, they use versatile wing / forwards instead.
Liverpool already have Ekitike and Isak.
Man Utd would love him but there is no way City would sell him across the city.
The only one I can see being likely is Arsenal. They were frugal this summer and will have money to spend. I wonder whether they held onto the money waiting for City's demise, and the opportunity to pair Haaland with Odegaard.
28/09/2026 18:27:08
In my opinion City should be suspended until the end of season and next season be demoted into League 2.
That's the fate Glasgow Rangers had to deal with when they transgressed for wrongdoing to a far lesser extent than City's cheating.
28/09/2026 21:13:24
Some whizz-kid hacked City’s computer? A three week break before they play again was probably the best time to be hacked (maybe not?) so when the Manchester City owner, says there is a long way to go, or words to that effect, regarding the process, and the premier league are saying that it’s a private matter, then I personally wouldn’t be holding my breath waiting for an outcome.
Money talks and City’s owners have got more money than most people on this planet.
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28/09/2026 07:21:53
Such brilliant writing Christine, and definitely good enough to go alongside the one that Evertonia’s, wordsmith Lyndon, wrote on the other thread on this same subject the other day.
Without going political, it’s clear that people in high places have been getting bought for years, so this saga, could end up being more intriguing than the actual football, which is becoming more boring every year, because of what has been created by the money cartel.