FFP

[LeeB]

Milan and Inter, maybe, but Juve (Agnelli vanity project), Real, and Barça (literally legally enforced) could only come to the sort of minority investment agreements that don't interest the sheikhs at all. More likely they'd just pile all their money into an acquirable and growable outsider club like Man City were - Lazio maybe.

Unfortunately, money always talks and some country out there will be contriving to open the doors to the ultra rich, no restraints and attract the world's best players.

Basically, replace the English Premier League.

It happened at PSG and yet still nobody gives a toss about the French League.

[Baldy]

Milan and Inter, maybe, but Juve (Agnelli vanity project), Real, and Barça (literally legally enforced) could only come to the sort of minority investment agreements that don't interest the sheikhs at all. More likely they'd just pile all their money into an acquirable and growable outsider club like Man City were - Lazio maybe.

Unfortunately, money always talks and some country out there will be contriving to open the doors to the ultra rich, no restraints and attract the world's best players.

Basically, replace the English Premier League.

It happened at PSG and yet still nobody gives a toss about the French League.

Yes, but if approached by the ultra rich, other clubs in France like Marseille, Lyon and St Etienne etc may not think twice. However, it is more likely to be the Spanish or Italians who are plotting as we speak.

[Olneythelonely]

I haven’t seen it posted (might have missed it) but the Daily Heil are saying us, Newcastle and Chelsea are backing Man City.

Edit - Just seen it. Never mind

[Monty]

In fact, it's severely stunted the growth of Ligue 1, as nobody cares about it as a spectacle.

When al-Mubarak warned the EPL were at risk of killing the 'competitiveness' of the league...I don't know. I can't believe Tom Lehrer survived it. 6 titles in 7 years, yeah that's real competitive. The PSG model, wow look at how great it is for the league.

Words cannot express how much I hate these people.

[PaulWinch again]

I haven’t seen it posted (might have missed it) but the Daily Heil are saying us, Newcastle and Chelsea are backing Man City.

Edit - Just seen it. Never mind

I haven’t seen it posted (might have missed it) but the Daily Heil are saying us, Newcastle and Chelsea are backing Man City.

Edit - Just seen it. Never mind

As has been said I really hope that is deliberately sensationalist language, but either way it doesn’t look great. I would hope we only want some revision of the controls so they’re more appropriate, rather than the rules to go away. We should not be remotely aligned with Citeh, Chelsea and the Barcodes.

[LeeB]

In fact, it's severely stunted the growth of Ligue 1, as nobody cares about it as a spectacle.

When al-Mubarak warned the EPL were at risk of killing the 'competitiveness' of the league...I don't know. I can't believe Tom Lehrer survived it. 6 titles in 7 years, yeah that's real competitive. The PSG model, wow look at how great it is for the league.

Words cannot express how much I hate these people.

Yes.

I always try and picture the type of people they would have been from my own childhood, because on a mental level that's what you're dealing with, as people with this kind of wealth don't develop like normal humans.

[Baldy]

The PL are as much to blame by allowing this to drag on for years.  They should have sorted it at at the first breach, not allow City to hoover up trophies for the next 10 seasons.

They're weak as piss.  It's almost inevitable that the outcome will be City drop their lawsuit and in return get the most modest of slaps on the wrist for the 115.  They will have played a blinder.

All very true.

The EPL are now finding out 'you can't have your cake and eat it too'.

(Another one Ads)

[PaulWinch again]

The thing that occurs to me is that I can only assume this attempt from Citeh is a reflection of the fact that on the 115 charges they know they are fucked and this is an attempt to move the goal posts. Hopefully it entirely backfires and redoubles the resolve to make an example of them.

[PaulWinch again]

There’s also a difference with clubs like Newcastle - as much as I have contempt for their ownership - at least it appears like they are trying to comply with the rules. Citeh have clearly just attempted to circumvent or entirely disregard them. They appear to standalone in their position and need to be taken apart.

[itbrvilla]

I haven’t seen it posted (might have missed it) but the Daily Heil are saying us, Newcastle and Chelsea are backing Man City.

Edit - Just seen it. Never mind

I've read Everton are too.

[Baldy]

There’s also a difference with clubs like Newcastle - as much as I have contempt for their ownership - at least it appears like they are trying to comply with the rules. Citeh have clearly just attempted to circumvent or entirely disregard them. They appear to standalone in their position and need to be taken apart.

The Saudis didn't buy Newcastle to sell their best players and win nothing. New regulations were bought in after that purchase to stop Newcastle in particular spending billions on new players.

Wouldn't be surprised if the Saudis are currently exploring the market elsewhere.

[Brend'Watkins]

The thing that occurs to me is that I can only assume this attempt from Citeh is a reflection of the fact that on the 115 charges they know they are fucked and this is an attempt to move the goal posts. Hopefully it entirely backfires and redoubles the resolve to make an example of them.

That would be naive in the extreme. You can’t win a case of flouting the rules by pointing at another issue as your defence.

[Somniloquism]

The PL are as much to blame by allowing this to drag on for years. They should have sorted it at at the first breach, not allow City to hoover up trophies for the next 10 seasons.

They're weak as piss.  It's almost inevitable that the outcome will be City drop their lawsuit and in return get the most modest of slaps on the wrist for the 115.  They will have played a blinder.

But the breaches weren't apparent were they? It was the Der Bilde exclusives which kicked off the initial investigations. Then the information gathering exercises to see if there was any breaches of Prem rules at those times and not just UEFA ones. Yes it is now 6 years since the last apparent breach occurred, and over two years since the charges were announced, but if the defendants have the money to spend to massively delay a legal process, then they will. For an example outside of football, my Mrs has been a member of a joint action against Asda for almost 10 years now, and it is still ongoing because of delays from Asda (as well as other legal delays).

[Scott Nielsen]

Richest non-state backed. Not a sure thing that many will come in who are richer than Comcast.

I don’t think the Atairos investment should be interpreted as Villa being directly backed by Comcast. If Comcast wanted to acquire a business, they would do just that rather than use a PE arm to gain equity foothold. Reviewing the Atairos portfolio of companies suggests they are exactly what they claim to be – a growth-oriented PE firm (a very small one, but still) focusing on long-term strategic investments rather than quick turn-arounds. I see no reason not to take Atairos stated reason for existing at face value.

I am not disputing that Atairos is largely a Comcast vehicle, but it seems reasonable to assume their original $4b funding of Atairos is largely due to them having a huge amount of faith in the founder given his long and successful career at Comcast. I.e. they trust him, they rate him, they believe he’ll make them a lot of money. There must be several other minority investors, though, as currently Comcast’s investment in Atairos is valued at 5.1b and Atairos claim to have approx. $6b in equity capital. Angelakis put in $40m himself.

There is more for Comcast than just making money though. Seemingly, they have first right to purchase any Atairos investments for example and they will be able to offer Atairos portfolio of companies access to partnerships and know-how within the larger Comcast universe that should drive value at both ends.

[PaulWinch again]

The thing that occurs to me is that I can only assume this attempt from Citeh is a reflection of the fact that on the 115 charges they know they are fucked and this is an attempt to move the goal posts. Hopefully it entirely backfires and redoubles the resolve to make an example of them.

That would be naive in the extreme. You can’t win a case of flouting the rules by pointing at another issue as your defence.

Don’t disagree but I think it’s a flex from a regime who aren’t used to not getting their way.