Soccer1 hr ago
City Fans Point to Rival Clubs Over Financial Rules Case
Supporters of the eight-time champions allege that Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United worked together to push for stricter regulations that targeted their club.
· 2 min read
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Dominance of the Trio
Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United have combined for 54 league titles and 44 runner-up finishes across English football history. Those three clubs, all wearing red at home, lost out on additional titles in the past decade due to City's success, which includes eight Premier League wins between 2012 and 2024. An independent panel found City guilty on 114 counts of breaking financial rules over a nine-season span, including the creation of sham contracts and the artificial inflation of commercial revenue by more than 830 million pounds.
Evidence of Coordination
City fans cite a 2017 meeting in New York involving owners and executives from the three red-shirted clubs. The gathering occurred one week before a Premier League vote on how to divide future broadcast money. Sources close to City say the absence of their club and others reflected differing ownership structures, and that the red clubs have long lobbied for financial regulations to limit outside competition. Comments from senior figures at those clubs dating back to 2009 have consistently called for tighter spending controls.
Impact on Competition
Season-ticket holders at City argue that the rules were designed to protect an established order and prevent new owners from challenging the status quo. They note that if City's titles from the covered period were reassigned, three would go to United, three to Liverpool and two to Arsenal. The same fans claim a similar pattern of self-preservation appears in other areas, such as media representation and attempts to control league governance.
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