Football (Soccer) - General News

[Federberg]

It is corruption, I have no doubt in that. Qatar was even worse. How Argentina was rewarded penalty kicks it was disgusting. You can't win when they get a tail wind like that.

When Spain scored a winner last night, I jumped from the chair with both hands fist pumping and screaming in joy. It was like my country was playing.

It is also the reason why I enjoy to watch tennis way more. 2 players against each other with well established and clear rules.

I hear you. And I felt the same way. But even in tennis there are situations where officials whether intentional or not give advantage to one player or the other. I certainly felt that way with the way Delpo was allowed to make challenges in that US Open final in 2009

 

[Kieran]

I was so happy Spain won the World Cup and I been enjoying myself since on insta and Facebook trolling Argies who have tons of conspiracy theories about how the match was fixed. Cry harder, dummies. And Messi went so down in my estimation trying to get Cucarella sent off, I flushed the toilet to get rid of him. That had no class, and Argentina had no class.

I was hoping France world prove to be the great team of the tournament, but Spain were on a whole nother level…

 

[Federberg]

This is great from UEFA. Can't believe Trump/Kushner corruption is trying to infiltrate the world's game. Infantino needs to GO!

UEFA’s statement

UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.

The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.

It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game. This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.

National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences. This is not a “democratic decision”, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.

But our opposition goes far beyond process.

The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure. From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders.

This model has no place in world football. Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.

Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.

As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.

Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.

There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments.

Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.

 

[britbox]

This is great from UEFA. Can't believe Trump/Kushner corruption is trying to infiltrate the world's game. Infantino needs to GO!

UEFA’s statement

UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.

The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.

It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game. This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.

National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences. This is not a “democratic decision”, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.

But our opposition goes far beyond process.

The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure. From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders.

This model has no place in world football. Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.

Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.

As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.

Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.

There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments.

Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.

I think 99.9% of fans agree with UEFA's stance - the principle of it at least. Yet, I'm not so sure this isn't much more than a power struggle - it's not like UEFA haven't put corporate interests pretty high on their own agenda.

 

[Kieran]

FIFA seems prone to hostile takeovers by megalomaniacs. There has to be something drastic done to make that organisation function without all this..

 

[Federberg]

I hear CONCACAF has joined UEFA in repudiating this nonsense. I'm waiting on the South Americans. Most of the countries there loathe Trump. Can't see it flying there either. It's the smaller countries in Africa and Asia that Infantino will try to bribe to go along with this that are the issue. But try running a world cup that doesn't have Europe and South America and even Infantino will understand that it's dead in the water

 

[Kieran]

Pep’s a bit of a drama queen. Fergie would have thrown a football boot at Walker..

 

[britbox]

Interesting discussion with David Dein, former CEO of Arsenal.

 

[Kieran]

BIG NEWS!!

Man City guilty of 114 out of 115 charges.

Man City charges latest: City found guilty of majority of 115 financial rule breaches

The club, which denies all wrongdoing, is accused of breaching the Premier League's financial rules between 2009 and 2018.

www.bbc.com

 

[britbox]

BIG NEWS!!

Man City guilty of 114 out of 115 charges.

Man City charges latest: City found guilty of majority of 115 financial rule breaches

The club, which denies all wrongdoing, is accused of breaching the Premier League's financial rules between 2009 and 2018.

www.bbc.com

What are your predictions for the punishment?

 

[Federberg]

What are your predictions for the punishment?

I think they should get a massive points deduction, (50?), which will almost guarantee relegation (although might team might find a way to finish below them). And perhaps a huge fine. I don't think taking titles back works. In the Seria A Calcipoli scandal Juventus titles weren't taken away. Just the one for the season in which the punishment came down. I believe that was given to 2nd place Inter. Wouldn't work in this case as City didn't win last season. You can't be relegating them because who's going to replace them? It just becomes a mess in my humble opinion

 

[Kieran]

Yeah it’s messy. They can be deducted 20 points from every season they cheated, that’ll reallocate the titles to the teams that earned them. But then there’s arguments about lower teams that might have been relegated because City beat them, teams that lost out on European places. It’s going to be interesting, but I think they should punish City very hard, while also looking at how the oil rich sheiks can compensate some clubs financially. I don’t think if a club is relegated because they couldn’t beat City that this should be held against City, though. They can’t null every match they won and untangle every knot…

 

[Federberg]

Yeah it’s messy. They can be deducted 20 points from every season they cheated, that’ll reallocate the titles to the teams that earned them. But then there’s arguments about lower teams that might have been relegated because City beat them, teams that lost out on European places. It’s going to be interesting, but I think they should punish City very hard, while also looking at how the oil rich sheiks can compensate some clubs financially. I don’t think if a club is relegated because they couldn’t beat City that this should be held against City, though. They can’t null every match they won and untangle every knot…

Yeah.. I think anything that tries to be retroactive is a non-starter unfortunately. Much as I would like it. Better to focus on punishing them now for all their past mis-deeds, whether it's money or fines. Do it in the context of this season. Hell you can take 50 points off them this season which will virtually guarantee relegation. And frankly if they are able to somehow survive it'll be entertaining as hell

 

[britbox]

I think they should get a massive points deduction, (50?), which will almost guarantee relegation (although might team might find a way to finish below them). And perhaps a huge fine. I don't think taking titles back works. In the Seria A Calcipoli scandal Juventus titles weren't taken away. Just the one for the season in which the punishment came down. I believe that was given to 2nd place Inter. Wouldn't work in this case as City didn't win last season. You can't be relegating them because who's going to replace them? It just becomes a mess in my humble opinion

Juve had two taken away but only one was given to Inter. It's a gigantic mess when you consider the claims other clubs will have.

 

[Kieran]

Yeah.. I think anything that tries to be retroactive is a non-starter unfortunately. Much as I would like it. Better to focus on punishing them now for all their past mis-deeds, whether it's money or fines. Do it in the context of this season. Hell you can take 50 points off them this season which will virtually guarantee relegation. And frankly if they are able to somehow survive it'll be entertaining as hell

I think they strip Olympic cheats of their gold medal? Certainly there ought to at least be an asterisk beside their name for everything. There already is, informally, but officially they should be marked. Arsenal built a new stadium and couldn't compete with their ex rivals at the top, it never crossed the Bank of England's minds to cheat, but a nobody club in my youth suddenly cheats its way to unimagined glory? I think stripping titles is the least of it. Relegation too. I'm a Leeds fan and we were chucked down a division via a deduction of ten points and we weren't even challenging for any trophies, only trying to survive. We still haven't recovered from it.

We're all gonna enjoy this and my advice to City fans is simple: Stay Humble...

 

[britbox]

This is an interesting article:

Four Premier League clubs eye £200m in compensation over Man City verdict

Widespread reports suggest Man City are set to be found guilty of almost all of the 115 Premier League charges concerning financial breaches, though no confirmation has arrived, with rivals now thought to be exploring the potential for considerable compensation

www.independent.co.uk

I wasn't aware Everton had to pay 35 million to Burnley in compensation on top of their financial breach penalties. If that is the case, then 200 million is a very conservative estimate for City as it potentially involves Premier League titles and (especially) Champions League qualification over multiple seasons.

 

[Kieran]

This is an interesting article:

Four Premier League clubs eye £200m in compensation over Man City verdict

Widespread reports suggest Man City are set to be found guilty of almost all of the 115 Premier League charges concerning financial breaches, though no confirmation has arrived, with rivals now thought to be exploring the potential for considerable compensation

www.independent.co.uk

I wasn't aware Everton had to pay 35 million to Burnley in compensation on top of their financial breach penalties. If that is the case, then 200 million is a very conservative estimate for City as it potentially involves Premier League titles and (especially) Champions League qualification over multiple seasons.

It’s enough to make a sheikh shake…

 

[britbox]

Yeah.. I think anything that tries to be retroactive is a non-starter unfortunately. Much as I would like it. Better to focus on punishing them now for all their past mis-deeds, whether it's money or fines. Do it in the context of this season. Hell you can take 50 points off them this season which will virtually guarantee relegation. And frankly if they are able to somehow survive it'll be entertaining as hell

I think you have to be retroactive to a certain extent - I mean if an athlete dopes wins gold, and fails a drug test, the guy who came second wins it. Essentially, we have financial doping in City's case.

However, the only period we can cover right now is the one the Premier League investigated - so we're just going upto 2018. In reality, City would never have had the success from 2018-the present without the earlier foundations - and I have a feeling that there may be more to come on the later era.

For now, I'd suggest:

40 point deduction - on this season - effective immediately. It still gives City players an incentive to try - in an effort to stay in the Premier League. Otherwise, their matches could be meaningless and this has a knock on effect for opponents.

3 Year Transfer Embargo.

Significant Financial Penalty - A lump sum to the Premier League to be reinvested into Grass Roots Football (not just given to clubs - ring fenced for grass roots - youth development, facilities, community football etc) - In the region of 300-500 million.

Secondary Compensation to clubs who have been affected by City's Cheating - factually based on prize money rather than projections.

All 3 Premier League titles from this period stripped. The 2011/2012 title awarded to United (Goal DIfference), the 2013/2014 title awarded to Liverpool (2 points behind). The 2017/2018 stripped but unassigned. They won the League by 19 pts.

If the fines aren't paid then the City ownership will be stripped of their "fit and proper" status as owners. Hugely damaging.

Additional Financial Controls and scrutiny to be placed on City for the next 3-5 years - an independent auditor will be appointed.

 

[Kieran]

I think you have to be retroactive to a certain extent - I mean if an athlete dopes wins gold, and fails a drug test, the guy who came second wins it. Essentially, we have financial doping in City's case.

However, the only period we can cover right now is the one the Premier League investigated - so we're just going upto 2018. In reality, City would never have had the success from 2018-the present without the earlier foundations - and I have a feeling that there may be more to come on the later era.

For now, I'd suggest:

40 point deduction - on this season - effective immediately. It still gives City players an incentive to try - in an effort to stay in the Premier League. Otherwise, their matches could be meaningless and this has a knock on effect for opponents.

3 Year Transfer Embargo.

Significant Financial Penalty - A lump sum to the Premier League to be reinvested into Grass Roots Football (not just given to clubs - ring fenced for grass roots - youth development, facilities, community football etc) - In the region of 300-500 million.

Secondary Compensation to clubs who have been affected by City's Cheating - factually based on prize money rather than projections.

All 3 Premier League titles from this period stripped. The 2011/2012 title awarded to United (Goal DIfference), the 2013/2014 title awarded to Liverpool (2 points behind). The 2017/2018 stripped but unassigned. They won the League by 19 pts.

If the fines aren't paid then the City ownership will be stripped of their "fit and proper" status as owners. Hugely damaging.

Additional Financial Controls and scrutiny to be placed on City for the next 3-5 years - an independent auditor will be appointed.

I think they’re suitable punishments though I think a 40 point deduction might not be enough. I think they should certainly be relegated and I think a sixty point deduction would seal it. They don’t deserve to be allowed to escape from this, given the size of it.

Also, I know they won the league by 19 points in 2018, but that’s not the point. It’s like a 100m Olympic champ keeps his medal cos he ran the race in 5 seconds and so was just better.

Well he was, cos he cheated. At the time, Mourinho said that was his best season as a manager, to achieve second that year. That chap’s no mug. He also said, who knows, maybe someday we’ll have won that league.

City don’t deserve to keep any glory from that period. There’s asterisks set as a default against everything they won. They can go straight back to remembering Dennis Tueart’s overhead kick from 1976, as their greatest moment since the sixties…

 

[britbox]

The rationale behind a 40 point deduction is that the City players have to play the remainder of the season with a reason to win a match. if they're de facto relegated they have no reason to be competitive - that alone compromises this season. So, even City must have an incentive to be competitive and make matches legitimate.