Pinto created Football Leaks in 2015 with the stated aim of revealing what he called football’s concealed inner workings. Antonio Varela still recalls the website’s debut clearly. The Portuguese reporter was the first journalist approached by Pinto, whose true identity remained secret for several years and who initially used the alias “John”. Varela said that […]
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English football has never witnessed anything comparable to Manchester City’s vast disciplinary case, a controversy that reflects the pressures and contradictions of the modern game. A historic club was acquired by members of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family in 2008, financed on an extraordinary scale and transformed into a dominant force, while the same league awarding […]
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Premier League teams have consulted lawyers to determine whether they could seek compensation following the outcome of the Manchester City case involving 115 alleged rule violations. After an extended wait for a decision, City have reportedly been found responsible for most of the alleged breaches of financial regulations. The club is also expected to challenge […]
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It now seems remarkably prescient. Back in 2008, 15 years before Manchester City faced allegations of financial misconduct, supporters began singing “City’s going down with a billion in the bank” to the melody of Yellow Submarine. The chant emerged after former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s 15-month spell as owner ended suddenly when assets worth […]
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A German newspaper released leaked documents, including emails said to have been exchanged by senior City officials—some of whom remain part of the City Football Group—over several seasons following the club’s 2008 takeover by Abu Dhabi owners. The documents allegedly indicated that the club overstated sponsorship income linked to state-owned airline Etihad and state-controlled telecommunications […]
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Barcelona sporting director Deco has dismissed suggestions that the club is looking to sign Manchester United prospect JJ Gabriel. The 15-year-old visited Barcelona after telling United earlier this month that he intended to leave Old Trafford. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain have also reportedly shown an interest in signing him. Speaking at a […]
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Manchester United announced a seventh consecutive annual loss on Wednesday, with spending on new players and costs linked to Ruben Amorim’s dismissal earlier this year adding to the club’s financial deficit. The increased loss was recorded despite significant measures introduced by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s minority owner and football operations chief, to […]
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Today’s podcast focuses on Manchester City, the only team to have won every Premier League match so far, following Arsenal’s convincing defeat to Brighton. Was it premature to consider Mikel Arteta’s team champions-elect? They had no answer to the Seagulls’ relentless intensity. Elsewhere, Spurs sit at the foot of the table as the panel examines […]
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Michael Carrick dismissed claims that his Manchester United squad was short of fitness after a dramatic late equaliser secured a 1-1 draw away to Fulham on Sunday. The figures indicated that the hosts covered 6.6km more in total than United, while Matheus Cunha, who scored in the 89th minute, questioned his team’s overall effort. With […]
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One of the clearest signs of Manchester United’s troubled reconstruction is the club’s failure to address several weaknesses at once. Vast sums have been wasted, leaving United to focus on one area during each summer window. The attack was prioritised last year, while the latest window concentrated on central midfield, despite the full-back options appearing […]
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