Manchester City: Klopp’s pity is Guardiola’s Waterloo

Manchester City has already been fined by Uefa for financial tricks, now the Premier League is also checking all balance sheets. The competition is rubbing hands.

Manchester. The Uefa ruling that Manchester City bans for two years from the Champions League for violating financial fair play divides the football world. Some applauds – because the law has finally been spoken. The other, reduced to Manchester’s Etihad campus, is angry and will call the CAS sports court.

And the Premier League? Opponents send encouragement, so they have “pity”. You wait for the starting positions, stars – the coach. And the league is checking whether you have to sanction “City” yourself.

1 What is Manchester City accused of by UEFA?

England’s master is said to have deliberately falsified sponsor income between 2012 and 2016 – valued excessively -. The main owner of Manchester City is Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Internal emails and documents – discovered at “Football Leaks” – suggest systematic fraud. The Sheikh is said to have paid amounts that have been declared as sponsorship from Abu Dhabi – for example by Etihad Airways.

2 Financial Fair Play – what is it in the billion dollar business of soccer?

Very simple: Clubs that play in the European Cup (Champions or Europa League) may not spend more than they earn. The balance sheets must be balanced over a period of three years. If the breakeven point is missed, donors have only been able to help to a limited extent since 2013, but cannot pump huge amounts into the clubs.

3 Who benefits from the punishment – how do the “citizens” react?

Uefa blocked “City” (as a repeat offender) for two CL seasons from the 2020/21 season. This would move up the table fifth of the Premier League (four fixed places in the elite league) on the “Insel”. That would currently be promoted Sheffield United. Citys calamity is an immensely important straw for stumbling greats like Tottenham, Manchester United or Arsenal.

The “Citizens” appealed and called the CAS sports court in Lausanne.

4 Has a club been blocked by the UEFA – because of the money?

Previously, the former Champions League winner AC Milan was excluded due to a – significant transfer loss – in previous years. However, the Lombards were only qualified for the Europa League, they accepted the punishment. Otherwise, smaller clubs such as CFR Cluj and Astra Giurgiu were hit.

5 Isn’t such a lock meaningless if there are umpteen absurd transfer fees?

Why isn’t Paris Saint-Germain also banned? Transfer expenditures for Neymar (EUR 222 million) and Kylian Mbappé (EUR 180 million) go beyond any revenue construct. It happened, but the CAS followed an objection in March 2019. A “procedural error” helped because the Uefa judicial chamber did not respond in time.

6 Without the Champions League – won’t all the stars run away?

Pep Guardiola is at a loss. His contract runs until 2021, holds the lock, the Catalan only has time this season to fulfill his dream of a second CL triumph. And what do stars like Leroy Sané (24, contract until 2021), Raheem Sterling (25, until 2023), Kevin De Bruyne (28, until 2023), Sergio Aguero (31; 2022), Nicolas Otamendi (32; 2022) do? At the end of the season, if the lock was in effect, they are about to jump.

7 Do the Citizens lose their titles, does the league impose point deductions?

The silverware (2012, 2014 master) remains the most beautiful jewelry on the famous “Etihad Campus”. But the club, Independent and BBC report, is at risk of further adversity. The league is now reviewing balance sheets from 2012 to 2016 – point deductions are possible in the current season.

Leaders Liverpool (1-0 in Norwich) would not have needed that. Jürgen Klopp’s team is 25 points ahead after the 17th league win. Klopp takes pity on Guardiola, he says: “You have certainly not done anything wrong. You played soccer sensationally. ”(Fin)

(“Die Presse”, print edition, February 17, 2020)

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