Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 14hAll these hypothetical conversations going on in his mind, yet he read the leaked emails. “We can do what we want” should tell him all he needs to know. 010
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Yep. Big pot of cash and maybe a nice job in the Saudi league. 000
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Interesting to see what his reaction is if he’s thrown under the bus. Does he come clean and start talking about the stuff that hasn’t even been uncovered yet, or does he get paid an absolute fortune to keep quiet? 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Whatever happens, I’m pretty certain he’s not going to be working in European football again after all this. With the political pressure, that might be the way it goes. Get rid of some execs, leave the owners in place. 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Agree with GoT tbf, but with the other two I just wanted them to finish so I didn’t have to waste any more time on them. 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 05/10/2026I’m certain we were in a tight situation with UEFA’s SCR rules and selling a HG player guaranteed there was no issue. 020
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 04/10/2026If they fail with the appeal, and their arrangement with the AD sponsors hasn’t changed since 2018 - we’ve no reason to believe it has considering they believe they’ve done nothing wrong - then I’d imagine it’ll be a relatively easy charge to prove. 010
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Yeah, weren’t there actually 134 charges in total, but the panel only covered the 115 up to 2018? 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 01/10/2026The PL have got to issue the punishment before the season is over imo, as soon as realistically possible really. Let’s say they get a big points deduction that relegates them, but they actually win enough points to have won the league without it. That would look terrible for the league. 010
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 01/10/2026City still playing with charges hanging over them was one thing, but allowing them to complete a season after being found guilty? It just can’t happen. The integrity of the league has already taken a hit, but if they won the league this season it would be so bad for the image of the PL. 110
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 01/10/2026static.klipy.comThis Is America Dance - Childish GambinoALT: This Is America Dance - Childish Gambino 070
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Tbf, we’ve probably been forced to leave ourselves short at LW because we’ve done something as daft as following the financial rules. 1100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Even if this were true + within the rules, what’s the excuse for inflating the value of the commercial contracts? Like so many people have said for years, Manchester City having a bigger commercial revenue than Real Madrid? Come on, don’t be daft. It’s actually ridiculous it took a hack to out them! 030
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Listening to Neville talk on the overlap about the requirement for owners to pass a test every season to qualify was interesting. Surely the city ownership cannot pass now, but what happens if they fail? A forced sale? Something like the Chelsea situation? Does the regulator have the power? 010
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 01/10/2026This is why the regulator must force an ownership change, or at the very least make sure the execs they believe to be responsible get substantial bans from football. It’ll be interesting to learn who the redacted name is that the panel have decided was unaware of what was going on. 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 01/10/2026After reading the PL statement, I thought the PL would come down hard on them - I still think they’ll want to - but the more I think about it, the more I think the punishment is going to be massively watered down because of political pressure etc. Imagine if city win the league this season! 110
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 01/10/2026This Manchester City represents a clear and present danger to the integrity of the premier league 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Is that enough of a punishment for what they’ve done though? Does it act as a deterrent to prevent other clubs from trying to do similar? Points deduction relegates them, fine. Potentially one season out of the PL is a small price to pay for 15 years of massive success. 110
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 30/09/2026The opportunity for this kind of thing is part of the problem with nations owning football clubs. I think the PL will want to really hammer City, but I think political pressure may be such that the sporting sanctions are watered down. There should be a forced ownership change, but it won’t happen. 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 30/09/2026“Rush to judgement”, 8 years since the investigation began and 2 years since the independent panel reviewed it. 000
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Yeah, didn’t Tim Stillman change his @ after learning of Gilberto’s support for Bolsonaro? It’s a bizarre one with Özil because he’d always been quite image and socially conscious, a lot of the stuff that came out about him, charity support etc, wasn’t what you’d expect of a RW nut. 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 30/09/2026I’ve no idea of their politics, but I wouldn’t be surprised if our Brazilians were pro-Bolsonaro either. 110
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Of course they’re sticking with them. They’re getting advertising in the premier league for a fraction of what it should cost. 010
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 30/09/2026All I can think of with him is the capitulation away at Wigan. 000
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 30/09/2026He also said the players won’t have known anything although that’s a bit presumptuous imo, considering some of the charges relate to an image rights company that appears to have been setup to hide the actual wages from the accounts. I find it hard to believe no player/agent would wonder why. 010
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Hopefully it’s something the football regulator can look at in light of what’s happened with this case. 010
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Surprised they didn’t amend the rules to prevent states and investment funds from ownership of football clubs. 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026I agree. I just wouldn’t be surprised if there was political pressure to minimise the punishment. I think I read something about expulsion would require 15 clubs to vote for it. I imagine there is a lot of anger towards City, but would 15 vote for them to be kicked out? 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026100%. This is why there is no way nation states should have any business owning football clubs. What I find completely crazy is that even though everyone knew what was going on at City, the Newcastle takeover still got waves through. Utterly bizarre. 110
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026I do a little djing and still pretty regularly get asked for R Kelly tracks! For every person that sees their achievements as tainted, there will be another that thinks “I saw a city team win the champions league” so I guess it depends on the individual. A true fan won’t abandon the club though. 010
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Yes, it’s for that reason I think it may be more realistic that a points deduction leading to relegation will be the punishment. They’ll do a season in the championship and come back up. Doesn’t seem adequate considering the level of cheating + cover up, but maybe better for international relations. 200
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Surely pride comes into it though? Wouldn’t look good for their nation if city get hit with huge fines + legal claims so they just wind up the club and do one. There’s still a part of me that thinks the political side of it may mean they just get a points deduction and a season in the championship. 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026That’s it. Stadium tours still having the trophies in the museum just doesn’t seem right. I just think it might cause too many problems for the PL. Would be interested to see league tables with city’s results voided. Obvs titles + Europe affected but I wonder if any teams may’ve avoided relegation. 000
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026If it were my club, my view of the achievements would certainly be tainted now, but my memories of the games wouldn’t change. I’d have still had an amazing 15+ years watching successful football, and that wouldn’t change regardless of what comes next. I bet loads of football fans would swap places. 110
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Yeah, if they get hit with a huge fine and have to defend multiple legal claims from other clubs, they could be in some financial trouble. Their owners can clearly afford it, although what would happen if the owners were forced to relinquish ownership? Administration and start again? 310
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Are all the players innocent though? Seems like some dodgy goings on with image rights allowed City to reduce the accounted wages, then top them up from elsewhere. Did the players really not know something odd was happening? 000
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026The real fans will still be there regardless of what happens because winning stuff isn’t the reason they support the club. They’ve had a tremendous experience over the last 15 years, basically winning everything. Nothing will take those memories away from them whatever happens. 210
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026It surprises me that so many people don’t seem to back stripping their titles, although I get that it could open the door for clubs to make claims against the PL. If it can be done, it should be done. An asterisk isn’t enough. I wouldn’t re-assign them to 2nd places though, just have no winner. 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026static.klipy.comI Don't Believe You - April Fools Day MemeALT: I Don't Believe You - April Fools Day Meme 020
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Yep. I don’t feel sorry for them at all. They’ve basically had 15+ years of amazing memories. They’ve seen their club lifting all these trophies which most football fans can only dream of. Even if they do get put in the national league, do you think that diminished those experiences? Not a chance. 100
Ben @benstripp.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Are we expected to believe they’ve gone completely straight from 2018? 010
