Football (Soccer) Thread

[Josquius]

I can't help but tie this into football being too over bloated.
At the top level literally millions of pounds rest on a decision. And trying to get everything spot on every time would turn the game into American football.

I guess it does come back to higher salaries being needed for top level officials.
If you were earning the sort of money players at that level are, the quality would go way up. At all levels,even those not on big money.

[FunkMonk]

Seems Chelsea has finally been caught red handed.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/15/chelsea-fc-face-new-questions-over-how-roman-abramovich-funded-success

Now documents, dated during and outside the period under scrutiny, raise fresh questions over whether Abramovich repeatedly flouted the rules of football to benefit Chelsea, as the club ascended to the pinnacle of the global game.

Massive cheating and corruption delivered them all their success.

[Tamas]

I am sure creative accounting and business deals to go around official rules was unique to Chelsea's transfer transactions in the football world

[Sheilbh]

I am sure creative accounting and business deals to go around official rules was unique to Chelsea's transfer transactions in the football world

Meanwhile for clubs that aren't in the Big Six/Seven

Everton deducted 10 points by Premier League over financial fair play breach

    Everton could now be sued by Leeds, Leicester and Burnley
    Club go second bottom on four points, two points from safety

Can only assume that Man City will end up in non-league.

[FunkMonk]

 

It is ridiculous to see Everton sanctioned with a points deduction while City and Chelsea get off with nothing.

[Tamas]

You mean while City gets away with nothing. May I remind you Chelsea was barred from the transfer market for quite a while.

[Josquius]

Chelsea has been doing it a fair bit longer. Maybe city's time is still to come.

Though wow. Insanely harsh on Everton.

[Gups]

City still have 115 charges against them. The process is ongoing. THey haven't got away with anything yet.

Agree that this is disproportionate when the five clubs who tried to destroy English football got off with a £1m fine each.

[Gups]

You mean while City gets away with nothing. May I remind you Chelsea was barred from the transfer market for quite a while.

That was UEFA

[FunkMonk]

At least, from Everton's perspective, if there was a season to face a steep points deduction this was it. Sheffield, Burnley, and Luton aren't very good at all and are almost certain to go back down. Everton are (probably) pretty safe unless they just completely implode...

[Josquius]

At least, from Everton's perspective, if there was a season to face a steep points deduction this was it. Sheffield, Burnley, and Luton aren't very good at all and are almost certain to go back down. Everton are (probably) pretty safe unless they just completely implode...

Yes, definitely true. There's some poor teams and Everton are better this year. They should still end up where they currently are.
That's what makes this particularly bad a decision really considering last year was quite the opposite and they narrowly survived.

[Gups]

At least, from Everton's perspective, if there was a season to face a steep points deduction this was it. Sheffield, Burnley, and Luton aren't very good at all and are almost certain to go back down. Everton are (probably) pretty safe unless they just completely implode...

I think this is probably right and it may help build a fortress mentality.

But the points deduction opens the way to Leicester, Burnley and Leeds to sue Everton and they have all said they will.

[Sheilbh]

Which feels like it might start to become a thing now.

FM2025 - now with Lord Pannick KC!

[FunkMonk]

With potential lawsuits on the table for Everton that also opens up the possibility of clubs who lost out on league titles or CL places suing City and Chelsea when (if?) the PL deems fit to finally punish them.

[FunkMonk]

Which feels like it might start to become a thing now.

FM2025 - now with Lord Pannick KC!

New Feature: Discover oil and natural gas deposits and hire a horde of lawyers!

New Feature: Bribe league officials and pay exorbitant amounts of cash to your league's referees in Saudi Arabia and Qatar!

New Shout: "Objection, your honor!"