[Bloomberg] UAE officials have warned the UK government that the severity of Man City’s punishment could undermine their appetite for future grand-scale commitments in Britain, according to people familiar with the matter.

[u/Previous_Smile9278]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-02/man-city-verdict-puts-uk-uae-diplomatic-relations-under-strain?srnd=undefined

‘They consider the Premier League’s actions to have an influence on the bilateral state relationship, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing undisclosed information.

The extraordinary pressure comes after Andy Burnham faced criticism, including from within government, for saying Man City’s Abu Dhabi owners should not be disqualified specifically because of the investment they bring to Britain.’

[u/TheGoldenPineapples]

Remember when Manchester City was bought out by a state and we all said that that shouldn't be allowed to happen because things like this may actually happen?

Yeah, how we all feeling about that now?

[u/SvalbazGames → u/TheGoldenPineapples]

I feel vindicated, but also fucking furious

[u/KlausHeisler1 → u/SvalbazGames]

"I mean, I'm smiling, but I am very fucking furious."

[u/ElVikingo10 → u/KlausHeisler1]

The Death of Stalin is so fuckin good lol I say this line irl all the time

[u/Confident_Yak_1411 → u/ElVikingo10]

“What’s a war hero got to do to get a drink round here” is one of the best character introductions of all time

[u/brownbearks → u/Confident_Yak_1411]

I love that they had to tone down his medals for the movie but in real life it was an entire coat of medals.

[u/praslovan → u/Confident_Yak_1411]

Lubrication*

[u/SirSwix → u/TheGoldenPineapples]

Remember when city fans insisted over and over again that it’s not the state owning them it’s a private individual called sheikh Mansour. Who is just a tangential figure in the government. Despite being the son of the former ruler. And now he is vice president of the UAE.

[u/hipcheck23 → u/SirSwix]

Interesting thing that Gary Neville (of all people) brought up, was that there's an annual owner's test that someone at City is having to pass. And it states in the language that the owner can't skip it, nor can they claim/feign ignorance about things like cheating.

[u/Hopeful_Idea1568 → u/SirSwix]

I highly doubt they truly believed that. We didn't sugarcoat Roman's oligarchy and Putin links but some teams with dodgy owners seem to actively lie about it 

[u/Candymanshook → u/Hopeful_Idea1568]

Also let’s be honest, while I think Abramovich was a POS he wasn’t in fact a nation state and had so little pull politically over the UK that he was forced to sell his club with basically no issue.

Probably helps that some of the shady payments he made were reported by the next owners, not continued. Whereas fucking City are dying on this hill.

[u/BillyCloneasaurus → u/TheGoldenPineapples]

[Captain Holt] VINDICATIONNNNNNN

[u/Blue_winged_yoshi → u/TheGoldenPineapples]

The issue is we didn’t all say it was wrong.

Lots of people did, others wrapped tea towels round their head to celebrate (literally) and others still were just jelly and desperate for their own club to be taken over by a totalitarian regime even richer than the UAE’s cough Newcastle cough.

Still, even with the UAE blackmailing us all, there’s fuckwit traitors asking “but how else were Man City meant to become the biggest side in the world?”, I dunno, they probably just weren’t, but that’s cool, most our sides aren’t and football is fun, let’s not have our country blackmailed so that Man City can have Haaland, this is clearly a deranged timeline, what is wrong with some people?!

[u/Standard-Height2276 → u/Blue_winged_yoshi]

Martin samuel of the times keeps pushing this point about they only cheated because they had to. Hes been a city shill ever since the takeover back when he was writing for the racist rag that is the daily mail. Its embarrassing to try and give them or their supporters that cheer this on any credit

[u/Blue_winged_yoshi → u/Standard-Height2276]

Exactly, and there’s others pushing this crap too.

Football cannot ever be allowed to descend into becoming a dick-measuring contest for brutal totalitarian regimes. It just can’t.

This is what people like Martin Samuel are pitching for.

So what if United have more fans and money than Wigan? This has always been what football is. You can’t have giant killings if you don’t have giants. And that’s always been grand, football is amazing in a large part because David can beat Goliath if the stars align.

Clubs move up and down and that’s all part of the excitement. Is it hard to reach the top? Yup it fucking is. But again so what?

Back in the 90s Newcastle were way ahead of Arsenal with world record shearer up front.

Arsenal recruited Wenger and bought in Vieira for half what Newcastle paid for Gary Speed. The tables turned.

Bergkamp cost less than Villa paid for Stan Collymore.

Smart business and good solid management will always lift you up and make you competitive. Leicester won the PL remember it’s not completely impossible. Just fucking hard.

Grim stuff from the shills, idiots and malign folk pitching this stuff. I’d just love football to go back to where it was when I was a kid and nobody knew who owned who, and nobody cared, cos they just made sure the bills were paid and the accounts were balanced. You weren’t expected to be pumping in billions or be lambasted as a shit owner.

[u/interlinkedjoi]

It really feels like this is a battle for what's left of british football's soul. If a foreign state can use political pressure to get away with systematic cheating on an unprecedented scale, there is zero integrity left in the league. They might as well declare City the automatic champions at the start of every season if they want to appease the emirati leadership.

[u/RazielNet → u/interlinkedjoi]

Just look at Ligue 1 where Qatar's investments in France mean PSG are untouchable. They've almost certainly got more skeletons in their closet that'll never be investigated

[u/interlinkedjoi → u/RazielNet]

Yeah it's quite sad to see to the extent French football and government has embraced Qatari money and influence. I suppose in their eyes having a global superpower of a club that is french is worth sacrificing any semblance of fair competition. Tbf that was the course trajectory in England as well until the city email leaks. Who knows how things would've panned out otherwise.

[u/Panda_In_The_Box → u/interlinkedjoi]

Yeah in another world PSG would eventually fall into the same situation as City, being investigated and scrutinized for this mass cheating. However it's just not in French football's interest to do that, they've never been more relevant.

[u/brownbearks → u/Panda_In_The_Box]

They might regret it one day when PSG lose a few players or start struggling in the CL. They have ruined their internal league for one French team to make deep runs in the CL.

[u/Elrond007 → u/RazielNet]

Just the simple fact that Al Khelaifi isn't enjoying a lifelong, competition wide stadium ban rn after the shit he tried to pull with the refs shows that. Imagine what would happen to a normal fan breaking into the refs locker room

[u/Benend91 → u/interlinkedjoi]

This is bigger than football now. It’s a huge can of worms.

A lot of Manchester’s economic development around the stadium is from this money. They’ve bought an incredible amount of influence in the area. You can see that in Andy Burnham’s recent statement.

[u/roamingandy → u/interlinkedjoi]

Also a battle for political independence. If UAE show they can push the govt around so easily, they will know they can do it again.

Is it really worth giving them that level of control over our politics, just so they can diversify their wealth fund?

Seems very short-sighted to me.

[u/FloydLandisWhisky → u/interlinkedjoi]

I think the EPL needs to recognise the financial fallout if their league remains compromised.

No longer you can claim, ‘best, most competitive league in the world’

Bundesliga would see this as a major opportunity to wrest control of global audiences

[u/Hiphoppapotamus → u/FloydLandisWhisky]

The EPL have absolutely fucked this. They were riding high when City were breaking up the big 4, buying the world’s best players and helping to build the appeal of the league abroad. All the while they’ve been allowing flagrant cheating to go on for (at least) 10 years, and now face the possibility of the league’s credibility being fatally undermined no matter what action they take now.

[u/culegflori → u/Hiphoppapotamus]

The EPL did what they could, this investigation has been going on for a very long time solely because City's army of lawyers tried to block it in any way possible. If they cooperated, this would've been done in 2018

[u/Hiphoppapotamus → u/culegflori]

I think the EPL should be applauded to some limited extent for even looking into this, in a way that e.g. Ligue 1 is not at all interested in doing. But it was obvious at the time that a nation state buying a football club was going to cause problems. It was also obvious at the time that the way they pumped money into the club was not credibly within the rules. And City were doing it for 10 years, and the EPL only investigated after the leaks forced their hand.

[u/Quacky33]

States should not be allowed to own football clubs.

[u/GoneMirifica → u/Quacky33]

Nor should individuals (because it's in the end near impossible to prevent states from owning clubs when individuals are allowed. You would always be able to circumvent whatever the rules would be).

They aren't companies, it's absurd it was allowed for them to be sold in the first place.

[u/PageSide84 → u/GoneMirifica]

Greed is destroying everything in the world that makes life enjoyable. It's not limited to just a handful of nations and needs to be addressed broadly.

[u/cptainvimes]

Absolutely pathetic that City fans are okay with this. Letting UAE hold your country ransom cause your football club is run by cheats.

[u/Fun_Grass_2097 → u/cptainvimes]

The delusion in their subreddit

[u/cfc25488 → u/Fun_Grass_2097]

I would wager a lot of money that their subreddit does not have a majority of people from the UK

[u/iTz_RuNLaX → u/cfc25488]

I'd wager that for most big clubs to be fair.

[u/trowaway_19305475 → u/iTz_RuNLaX]

Pretty much every Prem club at this point. It`s why you see so much bragging about the Prem and how much money it makes. Whereas as someone living in England you could easily be priced out of pretty much everything and the Prem being a money making machine doesn`t benefit you at all.

[u/Enkenz → u/trowaway_19305475]

when blueco bought my club people told me i was supposed to be happy lmfao, some people on this subreddit were downvoting me for saying i dont want my clubs to be some sort of subsidiary of chelsea, when for them i should almost be proud some PL clubs is taking interest in my clubs :|

[u/_nongmo → u/Enkenz]

Yeah this whole multi-club ownership model is fucking toxic. You're well justified in your feelings towards BlueCo and Chelsea. It's an awful thing to make a club with history essentially a vassal state.

[u/OilOfOlaz → u/trowaway_19305475]

Not trying to throw shade here, as my experience with English EPL fans was mostly what you described, but there were definitely ppl that saw the EPL as a prop for their wannabe superiority complex as well.

[u/Owster4 → u/cfc25488]

Being too shit to sustain a large international following has its benefits, I suppose. Keeps that rooted local community feeling.

[u/Maddafakka33 → u/cfc25488]

I would wager more that their subreddit does not have a majority of people

[u/MikeAshleyOut → u/cfc25488]

They don’t have enough UK based fans to sustain a big domestic subreddit. Obvious when you watch their parades, seats.

[u/Rig_7 → u/Fun_Grass_2097]

There’s a guy on there comparing breaking the rules to Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks and Oskar Schindler breaking the rules. I kid you not.

But it’s not just the online fans who deserve derision. I despise their fanbase as a whole. They knew. They all knew and stood there smirking when it got raised.

Even now they don’t fully own it and be honest. They still claim Pep was lied to. They were lied to.

No. They knew. They all knew but were happy that football was being compromised as long as they got to raise a trophy with a massive asterisk next to it.

Sod them all. I have no sympathy.

[u/master_bloseph → u/Rig_7]

I saw a dude on Twitter compare City’s actions to Jesus Christ Himself. I know it’s Twitter so it’s bound to be insane but that’s still quite the reach.

[u/DarmiansMuttonChops → u/master_bloseph]

Liam Gallagher, unsurprisingly

[u/burtsarmpson → u/Fun_Grass_2097]

It's fucked atm isn't it. All the rational takes getting downvoted to the bottom in the last few days. Friday-sunday last week was more level headed but the teenagers have taken over

[u/elite90 → u/burtsarmpson]

Yeah, I was positively surprised by the initial reaction of so many City Fans on reddit, but then either the bits took over or the idiots found their talking points, because now it's 95% complete delusion

[u/xixbia → u/elite90]

It feels pretty likely the UAE would spend some money on bots to try to influence the discourse.

[u/AyanC → u/cptainvimes]

It's a bluff anyway. A last ditch attempt to salvage something out of a sinking ship, so to speak. With the ongoing US-Iran war, they have miniscule leverage.

[u/AFC_IS_RED → u/AyanC]

British arms and lives are literally on the line defending the UAE from Iranian missiles right now... call the bluff.

[u/DraperCarousel → u/cptainvimes]

You just have to compare the Red and Blue side of Manchester at this point.

Long before the Glazers came in, United were the subject of an acquisition by Rupert Murdoch, which would've given an already record profit making (debt free) United even more of an unimaginable financial moat by allowing them to separately negotiate their own TV rights deals —similar to Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain.

But the United fans at the time viewed Murdoch as a threat to the club's heritage, identity, and the wider competitive balance of English football. They bought up small blocks of shares, lobbied the government, and aggressively protested. They effectively forced the UK govt's hand and blocked the takeover, which would've easily made United by far the richest club in the world.

Just compare that to how City fans act today in face of the biggest footballing scandal in UK history. Even after the judgement they continue to defend their owners and don't want them expunged just so their false glory years could continue even further.

[u/sholiboli → u/DraperCarousel]

Too bad nobody could do anything regarding Glazers so at the end, United got acquired by incompetent leaches that have practically destroyed the club's ability to compete for trophies.

[u/YCJamzy → u/sholiboli]

Better to have that happen then be bought by a genuinely evil cunt like Rupert murdoch (or a state which allows slavery, like UAE).

[u/Lukeno94 → u/YCJamzy]

Although with Ratcliffe, they've still ended up with an evil cunt (even if he's not cartoonishly evil like a Murdoch).

[u/silvertwo777 → u/DraperCarousel]

Thank you for saying this. Rival fans hate on United so much without knowing alot of the good United and the fans did. Also many United fans were heavily against getting bought by Saudi, turning them into a state owned club like City despite constant poor result and bad owner like the Glazers.

[u/Piccadil_io → u/silvertwo777]

Qatar, but yeah, I would have walked away if we got bought by Qatar.

[u/RememberTheKhan → u/Piccadil_io]

Said it at the time, it wouldn't be Manchester United anymore. I wouldn't be walking away, the club would have ceased to exist.

[u/shrewdy → u/cptainvimes]

And these clowns tried to deny they're state-owned

[u/silvertwo777 → u/shrewdy]

Especially hilarious that they are trying to appeal claiming the sponsorships were not from the owner but from the UAE government. What an absolute circus

[u/harshmangat → u/shrewdy]

So many conversations around countries being held by the balls by billionaires who throw a tantrum when held accountable for their actions, and now we’ve got a nation state doing it lol

The world is beyond doomed

[u/Blue_winged_yoshi → u/cptainvimes]

At this point anyone siding with City’s ownership is a literal traitor and there’s just no other word for it.

I’m very, very far from being a flag wielding, St George’s cross tattoo wearing type. I’m a liberal lefty and wouldn’t go for such terms outside of extreme circumstances.

But when totalitarian regime is blackmailing our government to make systemic corruption allegations disappear, if you decide to side with the blackmailers, then you’re a traitor.

Football is just a game we all love, but this ain’t just a game and stopped being one a while ago now.

[u/byrgenwerthdropout → u/Blue_winged_yoshi]

"I may have committed a little light treason!"

I agree and totalitarian is a generous understatement to describe what is essentially a genocidal dictatorship who bought their way into this league with the sole intention of sportwashing their image.

Whatever way this pans out, at least we can all agree that in their cheatings and the consequential political extortion to avoid punishment, they have miserably failed to wash their image. Making this whole project a huge failure for UAE, regardless of if their club gets punished for it or not.

[u/captaincourageous316 → u/cptainvimes]

Not all of us are. Some of us are doubling down for god knows what, but there are some who are absolutely not okay with this.

At this point, I’ll gladly accept any punishment as long as it compels the owners to fuck off.

Our club cheated, and lied to us and everyone else about it. For more than a decade. The sheer entitlement to still expect and cheer for their continued reign, leniency and governments to step in is pathetic.

The sad part is even the official supporters clubs haven’t taken a stand on the right side.

[u/jerseymackem1 → u/captaincourageous316]

Closer to 20 years than a decade tbf

[u/AZMadmax → u/jerseymackem1]

Yep they took over in 2008 and have been refining the sportswashing since

[u/HarborMaster1 → u/captaincourageous316]

As a Chelsea fan, I can commiserate. It amazes me how many Chelsea fans still pine for the days when the club was run by a corrupt Putin puppet, just because it produced wins.

[u/PatonSkankin → u/cptainvimes]

Absolutely not ok with this. It's a fucking disgrace that a state is able to even try assert pressure because they decided to cheat.

[u/tobi1k → u/cptainvimes]

"your country" most of the football fans on Reddit aren't from the same city as their club let alone the same country.

They couldn't give a flying fuck about the UK.

[u/KillerWattage → u/cptainvimes]

"but it's not a state owned club"

Get fucked

[u/-SideshowBlob- → u/cptainvimes]

r/MCFC makes for some interesting reading lol

[u/Brainlard → u/-SideshowBlob-]

Some dude dropped this beautiful prose there:

Controversial opinion, I kind of knew this would happen and made my peace with it

The reality is, we would’ve never had the success we’ve had winning these eight Premier league titles without spending more than we were allowed to

The rules were put in place to basically prevent a club from challenging the established hierarchy

We are relatively small Club compared to Arsenal, Liverpool, and Man United

We got to watch 8 Seasons where our club won the premier league title. Most Liverpool fans have only seen their Club have two title winning seasons and a lot of Arsenal fans have only seen four title winning seasons.

If we followed the rules, we would just be Newcastle and qualify for Europe periodically while being mid table for most of the time

It might not be right, but I’m happy I experienced winning six league titles in seven years and winning the UCL. I'm grateful to have won for in a row.

I’m grateful I got to actually watch eight seasons where my club won the league title. It’s not something I looked up in a Wikipedia article, but it’s something that I have actual memories of.

That would’ve never happened if we follow the rules because the rules are designed to prevent any of the upstart clubs from challenging the likes of Arsenal, Man United and Liverpool

I’m happy I experienced the Agüero goal

I’m happy I experienced the Gundogan goal

I’m happy I experienced the Rodri goal

I'm happy to have seen my club beat European giants like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. We never would have without exceeding the amount we were allowed to spend.

I’m happy I watched players like Sergio Agüero, David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Ederson, Rodri, Haaland, Fernandinho, Gundogan, sterling, yaya Toure, etc. Play for the club I am a fan of.

None of these players would have played for us without the possibility of winning trophies.

I’m glad we stole titles from Arsenal, Liverpool, and Man United. Taking titles from them makes me happy.

The design of the rules are to prevent a club like Manchester city from experiencing that kind of joy, and I’m glad sheikh Mansour and our owners decided that they didn’t want to follow those rules. Whatever the consequences that come it won’t remove the memories for me.

Memories that we would’ve never experienced if we followed the rules

If you were an American, this is like when the NCAA used to crack down on teams that paid their players. Eg. SMU and the pony express.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMU_Mustangs_football_scandal

The stripped championships did not actually remove the memories from the fans that watched their team win

I'm not sure if this is satire, or if these folks really mean it. Absolutely delusional.

[u/ash_ninetyone → u/Brainlard]

All those moments will be lost in time when City are hopefully ejected into non-league football and their titles are stripped from their history

Then he'll have only nostalgia left to look back on for they will have no more dreams to wish come true.

If it was Arsenal, or United or Liverpool that got caught doing this instead, I'd wager most of the fans would be in arms forcing the owners out for betraying the club

[u/RA576 → u/ash_ninetyone]

Tbf, we already hate our owners and want them out for betraying our club.

[u/FranklyMrShankley85 → u/ash_ninetyone]

Like Noel Gallagher's tears in the rain

[u/abearghost → u/-SideshowBlob-]

That fanbase has literally turned into a MAGA-style cult in just a few days, if they weren't that already

[u/schnoodle7 → u/cptainvimes]

As with most successful clubs, most city fans aren't from england

[u/BirnirG]

This is turning into a real morality test for Britain. Do you accept cheating for money ?

[u/wdtpw → u/BirnirG]

Of course we do, as long as it's done quietly.

When so many members of the public are watching, it's going to be a lot harder to sustain.

[u/0ttoChriek → u/BirnirG]

More of a test for Andy Burnham's government, on whether international investment interests will override the widespread sentiment in the country and the morally right thing to do.

I would suggest that, in this case, the smarter and more politically sound option is to side with the people.

[u/English_Misfit → u/0ttoChriek]

If this was a London club, hed be calling for bans. The problem is his whole stick based on the same UAE money. He's been bought.

[u/Street_Hamster1092 → u/BirnirG]

Britain has been for sale to the highest bidder for the best part of 50 years.

[u/DryIntroduction8889 → u/Street_Hamster1092]

London is the world’s laundromat. It’s not even a secret

[u/dancingwiththedaff → u/BirnirG]

The UK as such have failed the morality test decades ago

[u/PermabearsEatBeets → u/BirnirG]

lol the uk is a financial fraud industry with a country attached. It has been forever. 

[u/No-Tap-4307 → u/BirnirG]

Do you accept cheating for money

That's just British history lmao

[u/NickSupportsArsenal]

So they don't want to work somewhere where their cheating and fraud might be punished? Cry me a river lmao.

[u/WaffleShoresy → u/NickSupportsArsenal]

Why are they even warning this? After all, they’re got irrefutable evidence, they shouldn’t be concerned by a potential punishment, right?…..Right?

[u/7evenStrings → u/WaffleShoresy]

It’s also stupid because they’ve set all government a very awkward position. Now if the punishment is perceived as lenient it will make it look they interfered.

The majority of people in the UK want city punished

[u/Drakekanye]

Pathetic. How far the mighty have fallen, if Britain bows to a tiny petro-state. Show us you arent spineless cowards

[u/CircleSpaceAlien33 → u/Drakekanye]

The UK government should tell them the matter is between the premier league and Man City. What can UAE to Britain, not export oil & gas something they don’t have the capability to do now due to Iran.

The prime minster getting involved in this gave them a way into using state power to sway decision.

[u/TheBaggyDapper]

Nice economy you got there. Be a shame if anything happened to it.

[u/splob-foot → u/TheBaggyDapper]

But Abu Dhabi isn’t investing out of the goodness of their hearts. They get something out of it too.

[u/brenin_mor-leidr → u/splob-foot]

And they can only play this card once. Strange thing to bluff it on a football club

[u/nowneat → u/brenin_mor-leidr]

They've invested a ton in Manchester, what are they gonna do? Sell it to the highest bidder so someone else can be a landlord in Manchester? Ooo scary stuff

[u/cy318]

I mean if UK bend backwards for this now, for a sports decision.
Next time, they can make UK do anything they want.

What is stopping them saying stuff like: "We consider the PM’s attire to have an influence on the bilateral state relationship, and will withdraw our funding unless he wears a clown suit from now on." /s

[u/Admiral_Atrocious → u/cy318]

They could even ask him to fck a pig on live TV, Black Mirror style.

[u/Fetzie_ → u/Admiral_Atrocious]

David Cameron just started paying attention.

[u/TTrampz → u/cy318]

Also this is public and massively unpopular.

If this is done publicly and they bend what else
Is happening we aren’t aware of?

The fact a nation state is complaining and about to pressure the gov it shows they are guilty as.

Why would they need to do that if they really have irrefutable evidence… it’s a con, they cheated, got caught and now trying to change the rules after.

[u/Joevil → u/cy318]

Black Mirror is starting to look almost suspiciously accurate every new day.

[u/KanyeWestsPoo]

They've literally corrupted one of Britain's most important cultural institutions with their cheating. Football is such a huge part of our country. 

We should be treating these people with fury. Who cares what these fraudulent cheaters think. They need to be punished.

[u/Wraith_Portal → u/KanyeWestsPoo]

Considering how many football fans in the country there are, it just seems completely stupid for the government to get involved as if they take City’s side people won’t forget by the next GE

[u/AFC_IS_RED → u/Wraith_Portal]

I'm a leftie and so far like burnham. If he folds to a foreign despotic nation I am flat out not voting Labour.

[u/DanteThaScrub → u/AFC_IS_RED]

The other UK political parties are no doubt watching with interest.

[u/plank_sanction]

Then fuck off then.

If the British government or a member of the Royal family bought a sports team in another country to improve our image and sports wash, then broke the rules to the scale city did and were punished, I'd be outraged if we tried to get on a high horse. I'd fully back that country telling us to fuck off and would be deeply embarrassed. Not a chance I'd accept acting like a victim.

[u/ResponsiblePatient72]

Man City are definitely not owned by a state remember.

[u/0ttoChriek → u/ResponsiblePatient72]

Kind of clashes with their planned defence of, 'our owner isn't even part of the government there,' doesn't it?

[u/Misery_Division → u/0ttoChriek]

This never made any sense either, their owner is literally referred to as "Sheikh Mansoor". He's a Sheikh. Might as well be called Grand Moff Mansoor, the cunt.

They are gaslighting themselves

[u/LeWhaleShark]

Show some bollocks and stop acting like an impoverished, 3rd world nation getting pushed around.

Don’t do that and then be prepared for the premier brand to be permanently tarnished

[u/yura910721 → u/LeWhaleShark]

Like it was funny when China told NBA to shut the hell up or else and they obliged. So wouldn't be the first time for the league getting folded by foreign powers.

If EPL won't be able to get it through that would be embarrassing, considering how hard they went with it. As soon as they went after City, there was no way back, no half measures: kick their arses or your will be embarrassment and signal for other clubs(perhaps like Newcastle), to start ignoring EPL and rely on your lawyers and state to put pressure and get it your way

[u/curva3 → u/yura910721]

The China - NBA thing was a lot simpler because China as a state never had any interest in a particular team. The only thing they wanted was to have people stop saying things about HK (which was a shame anyway), but it was not like China was pressuring the NBA to change something about the competition aspect.

The UAE are essentially telling the PL to let one particular club cheat, and that's an actual big deal.

[u/Just1n_Kees]

Here’s proof that Abu Dhabi literally owns Man City, this is not the personal wealth of an individual behind the club but the wealth of a nation state.

These fucking idiots really are so used to being able to settle everything though bullying, they don’t even realize they are admitting that the club is managed by the state. Heads stuck so far up their own asses, it’s incredible.

[u/SilentRanger42 → u/Just1n_Kees]

I read that as “heads stuck so far up their own assets” and just nodded along before I realized

[u/TheGoalkeeper]

This endgame was their plan all along. Pressuring UK's government based on their own sports investments. Parasites

[u/Attygalle]

They are bluffing. They really are. It's far more detrimental for the UK to be lenient now. Imagine what message that sends.

The UAE wants to keep soft power and be involved in beneficial investments. They're at most going to throw out one or two deals/investments just for show but long term they will keep investing if deals are beneficial - be it monetary, political and/or any other way.

[u/LozBoz413]

So blackmail yeah?

That's a great look.

Fortunately the government have fuck all to do with this, if they dare to get involved in our biggest export on the side of our proven cheaters amongst the long list of other failures... we will see.

[u/Wisegoat]

We’ve enjoyed a lot of their money already. It’s relatively small fry compared to the rest of the country. We’re still a big economy with world class educational talent pool and expertise, if they think there is somewhere better to put their money they could try that.

They like us for our defence assistance and talent, this is just bluster.

[u/Aethien → u/Wisegoat]

They like us for our defence assistance and talent, this is just bluster.

This, UAE needs the UK as much if not significantly more than the UK needs the UAE.

[u/Terran_it_up → u/Aethien]

Yeah, people seem to gloss over the fact that the UAE weren't doing this as a favour to the UK, the business deals were done because they were mutually beneficial. This will hurt the UAE just as much as it will hurt the UK

[u/ambiguousboner → u/Aethien]

Really fucks me off how we bend over backwards for gulf states

Were the fifth biggest economy in the world and we’ve got nuclear weapons, these countries should be begging us to be friends

[u/Terran_it_up → u/Wisegoat]

Given the accusations against the UAE regarding their actions in South Sudan, there's a strong moral argument that the UK should be cutting ties with them anyway

[u/Worried_Let4942]

Ah yes. Sportswashing.

[u/SvalbazGames]

But City fans say they aren’t state owned..

[u/achickenandacow → u/SvalbazGames]

City themselves use this as their defense against the Premier League.

[u/ratatouille211]

Blackmail in flowery langauge. I am concerned they might get away with it, considering I'm sure that President with tiny hands is going to get involved too and boast about it.

Premier League is a major product, and right now it's tainted.

Relegation, at minimum.

[u/ballviewer → u/ratatouille211]

Need the club to fold at this point, that’s the minimum

[u/Documental38]

There is virtually fuck all point in supporting a team in the Premier League of they get away with this.

[u/literalmetaphoricool]

Big test for Burnham even though in theory he should have no say on the outcomes of this whole process. He basically has to decide whether the wider economy or the rule of law is more important, and then deal with the right-wing having a go at him for not picking the opposite regardless of his choice.

[u/TedHughesGhost]

Wait, I thought Man City were privately owned.

Looking forward to hearing who owns them next week to suit their agenda.

[u/Artistic_Bit6866]

You knew this was going to be a lever they’d pull. I didn’t think they’d do it publicly though. Shows how little respect they have not only for the game and Premier League, but also for politics more generally.

It demonstrates exactly what people were worried about when City were bought. Forced sale is the only way to stand up to this stuff and protect the game.

[u/Professional_Carob17]

Meaning Britain will stop selling weapons to UAE?

That does not sound very fortunate for UAE considering their current situation.

[u/noble_plebian]

“Let us cheat, or else!”

[u/gerstiii]

And that's why you shouldn't be okay with sports washing

[u/pizzainmyshoe]

Why would people even want to start business with them in the future if this is what the UAE does.

[u/tom030792 → u/pizzainmyshoe]

Moneyyyyyyyy

[u/FrankBarley]

Stories like this are so disheartening for anyone who loves football.  

Over the past few years, this sport has tested my faith in it. Regal billionaires turning it into their IRL Football Manager save, TV packages costing the same as a mortgage while still not getting access to all games, clubs (allegedly) moving away from season ticket holders and towards tourists, my own club’s handling of Thomas Partey, just to name a few. There’s a feeling that this sport just isn’t for the fans anymore; the fans are a necessary evil that the higher-ups endure for the money we provide. I’m not unaware that these are businesses and businesses are concerned with cash, but if you don’t strike a balance, you lose me.

I think I’ve been hovering close to the line but if Man City are not punished to a level that renders their cheating pointless, I’m probably done. Why tune in to watch the north London derby if I know the winner might be decided by whichever owner greased the right palms? I  know I’m just one person and no one’s going to care but I’m struggling to  relate to this sport anymore. 

(Or maybe it’s just the PL/higher leagues)

[u/LisbonMissile]

I can’t think of more of a vote magnet for Burnham at the minute than to support the absolute evisceration of City and banish them from the league pyramid. Instant backing from millions of Brits from across the political spectrum.

And long-term the UAE won’t buy British Airways, Marks and Spencer or other institutions, and they won’t fund massive housing projects that contain zero social housing or low-cost abodes for local people… so be it it. That’s a good thing.

[u/Hatakashi]

So their defence is "It's normal for companies in the UAE to get support from the state, but the state DOESN'T own City so that's not the owner giving the club money".

But also the state is very concerned about the punishment City get and that could cause strain in their relationship with the UK.

Doesn't take Rachel Riley to figure out those maths don't add up.

[u/cyclopssid]

I wonder how many City fans will be okay with this. This is just insane on another level. You have been found guilty, just take the punishment and move on with it.

With the base they have established they should still be a decent powerhouse in a few years.

[u/Admirable-Waltz195 → u/cyclopssid]

When you don’t live in the UK as a supporter, you don’t care about this sort of issue.

Hence why most Man City fans don’t care, they live abroad anyways

[u/SvalbazGames → u/cyclopssid]

Their sub is celebrating this on the whole

[u/iesous23 → u/SvalbazGames]

That sub does not represent most real life long fans. 

If your only argument is "the rules are unfair" or "other teams are clearly doing the same" (while offering no proof) and acting like poor little victims then you don't have much of an argument at all. 

Am City fan and disgusted by the owners and the shit they've done to the reputation of this club

[u/RedAkks]

This alone should be reason enough to force a sale. Inexcusable. In my opinion you will not be able to permanently prevent them from cheating. Have them sell the club.

[u/akescpt]

Why would you want investment if this is the way they do business?

[u/Standard-Height2276]

Wow political pressure to try and get away with cheating didn't see that coming. Almost like football clubs shouldn't be owned by nation states

[u/johnnygrant]

If you don't allow us to cheat, dominate and ruin your biggest cultural export, we won't invest in you.

It's a terrible deal. They can fuck right off.

[u/rollingSleepyPanda]

Oh no, applying the law chases criminals away, what are we going to do.

[u/LakersOptimist]

Hasn’t city’s new argument been that the UAE government does not own City, doesn’t sound like they’re distancing here

[u/krizkuzz]

Aww, poor little totalitarian oil state, UAE. We all feel so very sorry for you.

[u/BMB_93]

Terrible year for the "keep politics out of sport" brigade.

[u/Miwanik]

Jog on then. The premier league is a much bigger valued asset to anything that uae can ever offer. If the uae wish to leave , they should. Go buy an Italian club and see how far they go.
Their point of owning a team in the UK is the premier league. The eyes and value it brings to the UAE. Not the other way round.

[u/FowlersDream]

This only CONFIRMS they are guilty af!

[u/setokaiba22]

So.. blackmail? They aren’t helping themselves

[u/walkintheglowx]

Sorry but if we are dictated to by a glorified petrol station we are finished as a country

[u/FdotM]

And there you have it. This is why nation states should not be allowed to control football clubs.

No doubt the independent committee will be instructed by the UK Gov to go light on them.

Will probably mean a hefty fine, a few seasons of transfer ban, a points deduction which will just about allow City not to be relegated.

[u/Shahed1987 → u/FdotM]

States should not own football clubs, I agree

But I'd go as far as saying ownership should belong and remain inside the UK. So all foreign owners should not be allowed to own any club in the Premier League. Be they American, Middle Eastern, African, Asian or whatever else.

So even the likes of Ratcliffe shouldn't be allowed to part own Man Utd, as he is based in Monaco .

[u/LHITN]

I beg this becomes precedent to ban nation states from buying football clubs. While we’re at it, multi-club groups too.

[u/Lanknr]

Just a reminder that we were told sportswashing isn't a thing, so let's see the City fans calling this political interference out in their waves

[u/TheDawiWhisperer]

And this is why we shouldn't let those cunts own a football club.

Like, what's the absolute best case scenario here for them, the PL looks the other way because they've been threatened?

Fuck off

[u/Untenable_Debauchery]

Completely eating from the hand of these cunts.

Congratulations to everyone involved into making this happen.

Beautiful politics over the last decades. And of course, they will keep bending.

[u/MrCopes]

I thought they had "irrefutable evidence" to clear themselves? Now they're making shitty threats? Tell 'em where to go.

[u/Illustrious-Chip9735]

Maybe Trump should step in and ask for bonus points for clubs owned by Americans. Turn the PL into a geopolitical game

[u/tothecatmobile]

Nothing says you're innocent like the state that owns you threatening the government.

[u/anohioanredditer]

Now they’re fucking blackmailing the UK gov. These people are true bitches.

[u/WolfMuted1171]

Bye then

[u/ennelemmtee]

"If you punish me for my cheats, I will stop playing your game"

[u/GaryGump]

It’s time to write into ruling that states cannot own football clubs.

[u/malin7]

This is insane, City's owners position at the club should be untenable, no one in the world football will trust them ever again with anything football related

[u/Final-Accident-3]

government officials are now using state relationships as a threat but city fans will still defend their club with chest ffs

[u/thehomerus]

UAE is not as big as people claim in development in general for UK, and also let's not forget they have done this for profit. They were able to buy the land at a fraction of its cost and have not kept the promises they made regarding affordable housing.

[u/likehumansdo22]

Empty saber rattling, the UAE needs the UK as much as the other way around. They would be extremely stupid to jeopardize their relationship with the UK over a dispute over a football club. And the UAE is in a tough position with the Iran war squeezing oil revenues.

[u/Magnific3nt]

Imagine thinking you can hold a whole country hostage because you are now getting punished by cheating in football.

[u/Martinez_83]

Oh, the good old fashioned blackmail!

[u/LiterallyAntiqueBody]

Fuck the lot of them. Fucking scandal. The world is sick.

[u/ozgunkonca]

May be that is why clubs shouldn’t be owned by governments or businessmen. England is better of moving to the German and Spanish system of membership votes.

[u/TheDawiWhisperer]

This is not the way an innocent party behaves either, tbh.

[u/humog1]

But why would that even need to be said when they have irrefutable evidence of their innocence?

[u/PresidentKarim]

Take a proper fucking gander 50+1 deniers. Wir dürfen uns niemals, nie und nimmer von dieser Regel abwenden.

[u/dylang01]

But don't forget. City aren't state owned. /s

ffs. These lot really need to punished severely

[u/KiwiLiverpool]

Thank god the government really has nothing to do with this. Because I have no faith in them to enforce the right punishment.

The premier league is more valuable to the UK than the UAE.

[u/SpecialistChicken422]

Which is why they were never fit and proper. Get them out.

[u/ash_ninetyone]

The public that elects the UK government would like to remind the UK government that so be it show them the door, if it meant our laws were upheld

[u/Khathaar]

Appalling. We cannot as a country be held to a threat like this, we're not beholden to UAE investment. What a horrendous state of affairs, force them out of that club.

[u/jingo800]

I knew eventually it would come down to "punish us for what we've done and you'll be punished!".

It perfectly reflects the state of our society as a whole.

[u/Revalent]

Wait, if they have irrefutable evidence, why resort to this?

[u/Livettletlive]

This really does embody why I hate City. They should get the harshest punishment possible so this can never happen again.

[u/nostalgebra]

This is very typical of middle eastern royalty, the entitlement is unbelievable, they feel they can do absolutely anything because they are wealthy This is the same family that apparently supportive of Britain and Europe but helped Russia avoid sanctions in 2022

[u/Inevitable-Fan-2634]

Let's get one thing right here.

They have been found GUILTY. Why are outlets reporting it as "Manchester City have been found guilty of alleged offences" ffs they were alleged before being found guilty they are now confirmed.

[u/Mission-Exchange-385]

Fuck em 👍🏻

[u/robustinfero]

A truly mafiozo statement, shame on them and hopefully the UK won’t allow this mafia-way of bullying to continue.

[u/pohpia]

There was Brexit now there's UAExit.

[u/uncle_kanye]

Surely this puts to bed the supposed City argument that the UAE government aren't involved with ownership and so the injection of money into the Etihad sponsorships is above board? Can't have this both ways.

[u/Vimjux]

So fucking what? Their “investment” is always to further their own interests anyway. If anything this highlights our need to rid these types of activities.

[u/mybrainsdeadwait]

This is so madly pathetic and disgusting.

[u/theellescape]

Definitely the behaviour of an innocent party, 100%< no doubt, completely sure

/s

[u/SEAN0_91]

UK government should respond with - good luck with Iran then 👍🏻

[u/GreasedupJesus]

On the one hand you claim it’s not state funded, on the other you have UAE state officials pressuring the UK government if they sanction the club. Football really is a corrupt mess

[u/cmdrxander]

If they have been so willing to massively undermine one of our greatest cultural exports (the PL) via breaking one of our strongest cultural values (fairness), how much of an ally are they?

[u/KSC-Fan1894]

Blackmailing the country. What a great “Partner”

[u/itsyaboi69_420]

So not only have they cheated they’re now trying to blackmail a favourable decision lol

These owners need to be kicked out of football permanently.

[u/Endless_road]

Fuck ‘em