Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 14hA useful mental model when it comes to things Guillem Balague says is: Q: Is it about something connected in any way to Barcelona? If its not, then listen with interest. If it is, then 🚮 020
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 07/10/2026I would be very surprised if that is the case. I think that in most regulatory proceedings an appeal suspends the effect of sanctions. And given the consequences here I would be astonished if they took immediate effect 000
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Already gone, however much the players try to pretend otherwise 010
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 07/10/2026But probably an irrefutable argument I am missing somewhere 100
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Irrespective of the legal minutiae, the argument just doesn’t seem to make any, y’know, sense. 100
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Isn’t another problem with the CPC argument that City will have to explain why there was the need for the CPC to top up the amount the commercial sponsor was willing to pay and why the top up amounts were set where they were (absent any obvious commercial negotiation)? 100
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 05/10/2026I think that on this occasion ProRef should breaks its own rules and let Jared Gillett take this one 021
Reposted by Ben RayPrashant 🌊 @prasshant.bsky.social · 04/10/2026One more, Emperor Palpatine’s impact on the galaxy: 🗳️Provided leadership when needed 🏛️Restructured the Republic 🚀 Expanded the defence industry ⚡Advanced energy research 🏗️Delivered two moon-sized infrastructure projects, created jobs 👮🏻Mentored future leaders A legacy far bigger than just democracy 1272
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 04/10/2026The good news is that, given City’s case now seems to be that the money was all just paid by the Abu Dhabi government as a ‘grant’ to the sponsors, they will presumably be happy to confirm whether these same ‘completely legitimate’ arrangements continued from 2019-today. 110
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Or, just to put up an idea for discussion, could the have invested in the area and investment billions in Man City, but just to a slower and less cheaty timeline? 100
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 02/10/2026He’s nailed the fact that the Independent Commission is indeed not a court. So must have finished the first week homework where they teach you about the courts. Let’s just hope he doesn’t take electives on arbitration and competition law before the appeal, or City may yet have an ace up their sleeve 100
Reposted by Ben RayPhilippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 02/10/2026From Etihad's "RESPONSE TO CLAIMS RAISED ABOUT STATE-OWNED AIRLINES" filed with the US gov. in 2015. "The assertion that the Abu Dhabi government paid for Etihad’s sponsorship of English Premier League football club Manchester City is [...] false". 1611522
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 02/10/2026It’s the same story when you tot up the total spend on transfers and wages over that period. Even if you net off the £900m, they would have spent more than everyone bar Chelsea 110
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Great graph. Just ‘how’ could they possibly have been expected to compete when placed at such a huge competitive disadvantage?! 110
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 02/10/2026First few games and a few grudge matches will see higher numbers, I’d guess. But after that I think far fewer people want to watch City. As for the league as a whole, I think it will depend on whether City are fighting for the title. If they are, I think there will be a lot of people who turn off 011
Reposted by Ben RayRG @geezypeas.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Big up Everyday Puzzles on today’s cryptogram - we see you 🫡 2123
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 01/10/2026And if they didn’t raise the issue before Commission, surely no way they can argue that they should be permitted put this evidence in now. How can they argue that this was evidence they weren’t previously able to adduce?! 010
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Particularly in circumstances where City fought tooth and nail not to give the PL the information it needed. 110
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 01/10/2026There is surely no realistic prospect that they haven’t already argued this before the commission. And if they have, is the appeal panel really going to conclude that the commission got this big factual point totally wrong? Possible, I guess, but seems a stretch. 120
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Enjoying all the suggestions that the rabbit City have got in their hat for the appeal is the factual argument that the source of the funds wasn’t actually the clubs owners but some completely unrelated emanation of the UAE state. 130
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 01/10/2026The rules of the u10s tournament had also been rigged by the parents of the u10 children to create an unfair barrier to disruption by older children and adults. You weren’t just right to do what you did, you were a moral revolutionary. 0130
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Agreed. But it is nonetheless a good thing if there is already political pushback against Burnham’s comments yesterday 010
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Your honour, I know you have found me guilty of defrauding all these pensioners out of their savings, but when deciding on my sentence do take into account that I bought the most beautiful yacht with the proceeds. 120
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 01/10/2026And in any event, any damages claim would be against Man City as a corporate entity. Not against Mubarak in his personal capacity. So how would his diplomatic immunity complicate things there anyway? 121
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 01/10/2026…things done in his official capacity. Last time I looked, running a football club is not exactly core diplomatic business. (Not to mention that City have always been at pains to stress that their owner is a private individual not the UAE as a state). 120
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 01/10/2026This is the sort of story that illustrates that even journalists at good newspapers tie themselves up in knots when it comes to the law. Diplomatic immunity is a personal immunity. So if Mubarak holds it he would be immune from criminal prosecution. And from civil suit, but only in relation to… 120
Reposted by Ben RayMartin Calladine @uglygame.bsky.social · 01/10/2026I think this will be one of the defining images of the Premier League's void years: a proudly working class fanbase celebrating that the ruling family of an oppressive regime had hired a barrister on £10,000-an-hour to try and prevent them suffering consequences for their cheating. Embarrassing. 23326112
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 30/09/2026If it was the PL itself deciding on the penalty, then I might agree. But it’s an independent commission, same as the verdict. So outside noise means less. 100
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Ref had a complementary ticket to the Bahrain GP or something?! 000
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Baum looks like she can be a top top player, but just needs to be 10% sharper and more aggressive when she is receiving the ball. A few times now where a better touch and first action would have led to a shot on goal. 000
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 30/09/2026‘People will also remember that I previously raised some spurious complaints about a completely unrelated set of proceedings (in which I had a clear partisan interest). So I wouldn’t want to rush to judgement of Dr Shipman based purely on the 250 victims and overwhelming medical evidence.’ 000
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 30/09/2026‘He has done a lot for the local area. He always donates a prize to the Bestwood village hall Christmas raffle. And has created numerous jobs in the local anaesthetics production industry.’ 110
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 30/09/2026He was also talking a lot of bollocks about Everton, too! 010
Reposted by Ben RayGoonernation @goonernation.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Man City when asked to produce their “irrefutable evidence.” 152
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 30/09/2026It’s not just football though, right? The dynamic is the same wherever you look, sadly. People are willing to stand in line with the worst people in the world if it means they get a biscuit. 020
Ben Ray @benray78.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Posting this piece on the genesis of FFP so that the next time someone trying is to justify huge corporate fraud on the basis that the rules were cooked up by the rich clubs you can print it off and batter them round their stupid thick head with it: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...independent.co.ukThe truth behind football’s much-maligned Financial Fair Play rulesAre the FFP rules Man City are alleged to have broken ‘unfair’ or ‘created by a cartel’? Miguel Delaney explains the reality of financial regulation in modern football 010
Reposted by Ben RayPrashant 🌊 @prasshant.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Sham City Presenting the irrefutable evidence. 1467
