<p>Allegations surfaced that Manchester City accepted $38 million in illegal funds from a “mystery” sponsorship in the United Arab Emirates. The “Britain’s Biggest Football Scandal?” documentary highlighted the unreleased report from UEFA’s Club Financial Control Board. </p>



<p>UEFA completed an official report in 2020 according to widespread opinion. However, the governing body never released the information. The investigation claims that the 2012 and 2013 payments made up for funds that were originally expected to arrive from one of City’s big sponsors.</p>



<p>UEFA officials, according to the documentary, City received $19 million in two installments in 2012 and 2013. That consisted of nonexistent sponsorship money. The FA cited these money transfers as evidence in February. Back then, it accused the club of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/man-city-allegedly-broke-financial-rules-more-than-100-times-20230206-WST-418752.html">breaking 115 financial regulations</a> set by the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a>.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="BRITAIN&apos;S BIGGEST FOOTBALL SCANDAL?" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LlLRWw47HOk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<h2>Manchester City sponsorship scandal latest financial hiccup</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/08/manchester-city-roberto-mancini-abu-dhabi-money-second-contract-sheikh-mansour" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Other claims</a> say the club paid former manager Roberto Mancini a total of $4.72 million. Just $1.83 million came on the club’s books. The rest was from Al Jazira Sports and Cultural Club. The owner of Al Jazira is City’s majority shareholder, Sheikh Mansour.</p>



<p>UEFA questioned a club attorney and identified “Jaber Mohamed” as the payer. The governing body characterized him as “a person in the business of providing financial and brokering services to commercial entities in the UAE.”</p>



<h5>City escaped Champions League ban prior to winning it</h5>



<p>A four-year investigation investigating their actions from 2015/16 to 2017/18 led to the club being found guilty this winter. The Premier League then sent the case to an impartial panel. Following investigations, the English side faced charges of ‘serious breaches’ of financial fair play regulations. This was during the period from 2012 to 2016.</p>



<p>Consequently, they received a two-year ban from the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">UEFA Champions League</a>. However, the club chose to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which ultimately overturned the ban and reduced the associated fine from $38 million to $13 million.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PA Images</em></p>


Manchester City embroiled in $38m fake sponsorship scandal

Allegations have surfaced that a "mystery" sponsorship from the United Arab Emirates paid $38 million to Manchester City illegally.

<p><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/editorial/roberto-mancini-manager/image/8547612?term=Roberto+Mancini" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8547612/roberto-mancini-manager/roberto-mancini-manager.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=8547612" border="0" width="500" height="356" alt="Roberto Mancini Manager Manchester City 2009/10 Manchester City V Manchester United 17/04/10 The Premier League Photo Robin Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom"></figure></div></a><br>
The ever increasing pressure on Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini  has reached a new height after City’s disappointing Europa League defeat at Lech Poznan. It is now three straight defeats for Mancini and now means Sunday’s trip to West Brom, a ground where City have already tasted defeated this season, is crucial.</p>
<p>A trip to Poland on a wet Thursday night was always going to be difficult, but with the strength of City’s squad most would have expected them to return with a solid European win. Once again though Mancini found that his opponents raised their game meaning a tough trip became even harder.</p>
<p>This is becoming the norm this season. City have become a big scalp and in attempting to beat them, sides raise their game accordingly. Mancini has found this very difficult to deal with. The expectation of the club and it’s fans are that City should win most games comfortably, where in reality an easy win won’t be the norm.</p>
<p>It doesn’t help Mancini that his own players further add to the expectations of the fans with wild claims about their ability. Ahead of the Poznan game outspoken Mario Balotelli set out his ambitions for his time in Manchester.</p>
<p>Speaking to the official City website he said: “I want to be the best player in the world. It is good to have ambition. I’ve said in the past that I don’t care what other people want or expect of me because I know what I want.</p>
<p>“I will always give everything because I want to become the best. That is my aim and I am determined to make it happen. I am here at City to play Champions League football, that’s the competition I want to be in and that is what all the players here want to play in.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;I’m sure Balotelli was only looking to drum up some excitement ahead of his expected start against Poznan, but when City fans, and maybe even the clubs hierarchy read comments like that they will be expecting big things of the striker, and ultimately the City side. This makes disappointing results feel a lot worse when they arise.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for Mancini you have to feel that too many of these disappointing results have occurred and it seems only a matter of time before Sheikh Mansour will be looking for a new boss. Whoever comes in to replace Mancini should make lowering expectations his top priority, because if he doesn’t he will soon face the same fate as Mancini.</p>


Three Straight Defeats Could Spell The End For Roberto Mancini

Three Straight Defeats Could Spell The End For Roberto Mancini - World Soccer Talk

<p><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/wolves-manchester-city/image/10090344?term=mancini" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/10090344/wolves-manchester-city/wolves-manchester-city.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=10090344" border="0" alt="Molineux Grounds Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City Premier League 30/10/2010 Lucky scarf discarded, Manchester City manager Robert Mancini watches City slump to defeat Photo: Roger Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom" width="500" height="351"></figure></div></a><br>
Life in charge of the world’s wealthiest football club was never going to be easy for Roberto Mancini. Ever since arriving at Eastlands last December, there has always been the sense that the Italian is a couple of bad results away from the chop. Well after City’s back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Wolves these bad results have arrived.</p>
<p>I’m not saying that Mancini will be getting sacked on Monday morning, but with City eight points adrift of Chelsea after just ten games; you have to feel that Mancini desperately needs to see an immediate improvement in results.</p>
<p>But this won’t be easy. After a tricky trip to Poland to take on Lech Poznan in the Europa League, City face the tough task of a visit to the Hawthorns and an inform West Brom side. After that comes the biggest game of all as Manchester United make the trip across to Eastlands.</p>
<p>By all accounts that is three very tough games for Mancini to navigate, and if City were to have fallen further away from Chelsea at the end of the Manchester derby, you have to feel that Sheikh Mansour will call the end of the Italians tenure.</p>
<p>Mancini though claims he does not fear the sack, but did apologise to City fans for what he called the worst performance from his side this season. He said “I do not feel the pressure, I am not worried about that [the sack]. But of course we have to win these games, because we are a very good team.</p>
<p>“I am very sorry&nbsp;for the supporters. We played very well but only for the first 15 minutes. It was not good enough but I don’t know why. I must talk to the players and find out what happened because we shouldn’t play like that. I am very disappointed but I will find out why we played so badly.”</p>
<p>Mancini is obviously going to put on a brave face, but his interview after the Wolves defeat really did suggest that he is feeling the pressure. I have no doubt that with his squad he can turn it around, but whether he will get given the time to improve things on the pitch is another question. Patience is a thing that is desperately lacking in football, and Mancini needs to act quickly to save his job.</p>
<p>What do you think? Is Mancini heading for the City exit door?</p>


Roberto Mancini Heading For The Sack?

Roberto Mancini Heading For The Sack? - World Soccer Talk

<p><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/roberto-mancini-manager/image/9883896?term=Mancini" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9883896/roberto-mancini-manager/roberto-mancini-manager.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=9883896" border="0" width="500" height="394" alt="Roberto Mancini Manager Manchester City 2010/11 Manchester City V Juventus (1-1) 30/09/10 UEFA Europa League Photo Robin Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom"></figure></div></a><br>
The old saying is that a good team can grind out a result when they are not playing well. Well Manchester City did that today with a hard fought win over an impressive Newcastle United side.</p>
<p>If there is one that that City boss has brought to the club since his arrival last December, it is the Italian mentality to grind out results. In truth Newcastle were probably worthy of a point today, but Adam Johnson’s late goal was enough to end see the Toon travel home empty handed.</p>
<p>Johnson’s introduction probably explains why City are able to grind out results. After a game where they struggled to really have any creative spark, Mancini was able to turn to a bench possessing quality that would walk in to most sides in the Premier League.</p>
<p>It’s hardly surprising that Mancini has this much quality at his disposal. On Friday City revealed the true price of their quest for success. &nbsp;It doesn’t make pretty reading for the bank manager of Sheikh Mansour after the Eastlands club lost a staggering £121 million for 12 months leading up May 31 2010.</p>
<p>Perhaps an even more remarkable statistic was that City managed to spend £133million wages and only turned over £125 million. It does make you think just how sustainable this level of spending is. Yes City are backed by owners who have a bottomless pit of wealth to invest in to the club, but they will surely want to see a return on their investment in the not so distant future.</p>
<p>This is why Mancini is under so much pressure, as will any manager who takes over at Eastlands; £121 million is far too much of an expense for a failing side. A failing sides responsibility ultimately lies with the manager.</p>
<p>So while City were able to grind a win today, Mancini will have to keep grinding out the results in order to keep Sheikh Mansour’s axe away from him.</p>
<p>Also a quick note over Newcastle winger Hatem Ben Arfa who picked up a horrific injury early on in the game. Hopefully the injury is not as bad as first feared.</p>


Manchester City Grind Another Result Out

Manchester City Grind Another Result Out - World Soccer Talk

<p><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/telegraph.co.uk/public/images_news/2010/1/17/400x400_1263668773_spt_ai_everton_manchestercity_13.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="400"></figure></div>It was the marquee signing that announced that Manchester City had money to burn and were determined to usurp the comfy old pals act at the top of the Premiership. Fans flocked to <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/dailybung/4238581/Kaka-snub-wont-stop-Manchester-City-from-Sheikhing-things-up-Football.html" target="_blank">Eastlands in tea-towels</a> to show their new Arabic allegiance and the shock that seemed to follow such a transfer.&nbsp; £32.5 million had brought Robinho from Real Madrid to Manchester in a matter of hours and English football was in shock.</p>
<p>At first, the plaudits rained down on the little Brazilian as his pace and trickery dazzled the fans and replica kits bearing his name flew out of the club shop. Sheik Mansour had offered the highest profile player he could lay his hands on as that frenetic day came to a conclusion with City making bids all over Europe. The City fans were in raptures but every silver lining has a cloud.</p>
<p></p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/telegraph.co.uk/09/12/800x600/Roberto-Mancini-Robinho-Manchester-City-Premi_2400796.jpg" alt="" width="465" height="348"></figure></div>
<p>For some reason, Robinho’s form began to tail off and soon it became evident that he simply didn’t perform away from Eastlands. Almost anonymous for most of the away games he appeared in, it took until April last year for the player to finally turn it on in an away game. Facing a tough trip to Goodison, he was effervescent throughout the game and showed true glimpses of his undoubted skill. 9 months later, a game at the same opponents has Robinho’s critics sharpening their knives.</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone can honestly understand how low a player feels when you join as a&nbsp; substitute only to be then substituted. It sickens you to the stomach, unless injury has forced you off and that can still rankle as much. Similarly to being substituted at half time, the effect on the footballers psyche is deep and unremitting. To put it bluntly, it hurts like hell and everyone can see it. Pride and shame bubble up from deep inside you, you hope a giant hole will appear to swallow you up but it never arrives.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/telegraph.co.uk/ftsmh/ffximage/2009/01/28/robinho_wideweb__470x313,0.jpg" alt="" width="470" height="313"></figure></div>
<p>This event happening in a Sunday morning pub league is bad enough but in front of 37,728 fans and millions more watching around the world it’s almost catastrophic. The effect can be spirit crushing, especially for such a precocious and mentally delicate player as Robson De Souza clearly is. I appreciate that Mancini has to be strong and coming from Internazionale, he is used to dealing with the largest of ego’s but is Robinho egotistical or simply one of those players that constantly needs to be told how good he is? For me it’s the latter.</p>
<p>It’s difficult to explain why some players constantly need to be told how good they are, despite all the evidence pointing to the contrary. Everyone knows they’re good, so surely they must realise it also? It doesn’t work like that, inside your head, you don’t think like that, you don’t think you are that good, you don’t think you can do it every game. Think that’s infuriating for a fan? How do you think the player feels?</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/telegraph.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2008/10/20/robinho3.jpg" alt="" width="460" height="276"></figure></div>
<p>Away from home, opponents can figure out players like this, it’s easy. A bit of needle, a few choice words, a foot left in the tackle a little bit longer than it should be or a body check is all it takes to get the player questioning himself. At home, the fans can make you shake the cobwebs out of your head, clear your mind and get you focused back on your abilities and shut out the opposition and their fans baying for your blood.Away from home, it is a very different ball game. Robinho can be talked out of a match away from Eastlands.</p>
<p>Just because someone cost £32.5 million doesn’t make them immune to bouts of self doubt or a loss of confidence or form. Robinho is clearly a confidence player who needs an arm around the shoulder to keep him on side. Regardless of the image and the wages, it’s the battle inside your mind that makes you the player who you really are. Once Robinho can deal with his own self doubts and lack of confidence, then he will truly unlock all of his potential. Mancini needs to show patience and guide him, rather than chastise him.</p>

How Can Manchester City Solve A Problem Like Robinho?

How Can Manchester City Solve A Problem Like Robinho? - World Soccer Talk

<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/premierleagueinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/Mancity/mark-hughes1%201.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="400"></figure></div>
<p>So it’s official now, Manchester City’s owners have shown there true colours with yesterdays sacking of Mark Hughes and replacing him with Roberto Mancini. Rumours had been circling Hughes since Saturday morning, with several British papers stating that the game against Sunderland was to be his last. The board of Manchester City can no longer hide the delusion that powers the boardroom, a complete lack of the fundamental understanding of football and the team ethic.</p>
<p>Yes, they’ve spent massively over the last 18 months, but quite where this decision now sits with the empty promises over the summer that Mark Hughes was a long term investment is anyone’s guess. Here is a team that sits in 6th, with a game in hand, with a forthcoming League Cup semi-final next month against United to come. Apparently, this simply isn’t good enough.</p>
<p></p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/premierleagueinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/robinho_1016209c.jpg" alt="" width="460" height="288"></figure></div>
<p>Of course, only an idiot would think that you could create a title challenging side in 18months. Regardless of the investment or the monies spent, this is fantasy football based on the idea that if something costs a lot of money it must be good. Football doesn’t work like that. All the hoo haa about Robinho when he signed has been proved to be just that. He’s nowhere near as good as his marketing team tell us and it’s now apparent. Yet he cost £31 million and he’s Brazilian, so he must be brilliant it seems. All those people banging on about him being one of the best players in the world seem to be keeping their heads down these days.</p>
<p>City fans, some of footballs most hardy and loyal followers will be surprised by this but it’s not a situation they’re not accustomed to. During the tenure of Peter Swales, most fans needed an encyclopedia to keep up with the manager merry go round at Maine Road. It was no surprise that the side yo-yoed between the top two divisions for nearly two decades, with a season in the third tier for good measure. Of course, that situation will surely not repeat itself, but the boardroom now resembles that of a tantrum throwing teenager.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/premierleagueinsider.com/2009/09/shefio.jpg" alt="" width="460" height="288"></figure></div>
<p>The statement issued by Manchester City yesterday speaks volumes about the little understanding of football they have.&nbsp;<strong><em> “A return of two wins in 11 Premier League games is clearly not in line with the targets that were agreed and set, Sheikh Mansour and the board felt that there was no evidence that the situation would fundamentally change.”</em></strong></p>
<p>I feel for Hughes, I don’t feel he’s been given enough time for the side to gel. Don’t let the outlay cloud the truth of what has gone on here. In fact, you have to question who was choosing their transfer targets. With the exception of Bellamy and Given, most of the big outlay players simply haven’t delivered consistently. No-one is questioning Wengers decision to sell Toure and Adebayor anymore are they? To create a side takes time, patience and knowledge.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/premierleagueinsider.com/2009/03/robertomancini_1141_18615836_0_0_7013615_300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300"></figure></div>
<p>Yet, the decision to install Mancini shows two things: The decision to install Hughes had already been taken and Mancini tapped up to replace him and by appointing Mancini, a complete lack of the understanding of football. The owners of Manchester City want to be the best side in the world, but they appoint someone who hasn’t managed since being sacked by Inter Milan in April 2008. Why no offer for Hiddink? Frank Rijkaard? even Jose Mourinho?</p>
<p>Mancini was sacked after his continual failure to trouble the further rounds of the Champions League but his tenure at Inter is rose tinted. With the exception of Roma, all of Inters major rivals were embroiled in the match fixing scandal of 2006. So Mancini’s first title was given to them after Juventus were stripped of it. The second title was won when all their rivals were deducted points, or in Juventus’ situation, relegated to Serie B and Roma couldn’t capitalise. They were also able to strip players from the other teams who were punished, so how great a manager was he really?</p>
<p>Mancini was sacked before the third title was assured. Yet Sheikh Mansour thinks he’s the man to make them a great side? Fantastic decision making there Sheikh Mansour, I don’t think Chelsea will be losing any sleep. Yet another Fantasy Football decision based of a complete lack of knowledge of the game. Manchester City fans deserve respect, not this ridiculous attempt to sign every person you’ve heard of. It was a dreadful decision to sack Hughes, but an even worse one to replace him with Mancini.</p>

Manchester City Lose Patience With Mark Hughes

Manchester City Lose Patience With Mark Hughes - World Soccer Talk

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