Gee, didn’t see this coming (sarcasm alert)! Here’s how it all pans out. United poach players for years with complete impunity. Then City come along and threaten to upset the elite with their ‘obscene’ amounts of cash. Platini doesn’t want yet another English club dominating the European scene, but knowing that spending caps etc may be contrary to European law and, therefore, doomed to failure, he needs a ruse for excluding us, so he contacts Blatter with a view to ‘investigating’ transfers involving kids. Firstly, and in order to make it look like they aren’t deliberately targeting City, we have a token charge for serial offenders Chelsea in the shape of a 2 window shopping ban, which will undoubtedly be reduced to 1 on appeal and therefore be of negligible effect. Then a bit of non-specific stuff on United, a case that can and will be easily rebutted. Then the big one, City. Suitably briefed, the Rennes hierarchy start squawking that our behaviour is worse than Chelsea’s because.....(insert bulls..t reason here), despite not having said a dickybird 5 years ago when it all supposedly happened. Blatter comes over all outraged, ‘worst case yet’, ‘need to set an example’ etc etc, and hey presto, City get clobbered. But don’t for one moment think they’ll settle for giving us a 2 window shopping ban. The rags, Liverpool, Real Madrid, AC Milan and so on, they all want to neuter us permanently, so expect a 2 year ban from all European competitions for City, whilst the others set up a European Super League, which we will be excluded from, sine die, as there will be no promotion or relegation. That way, we can have all the money in the world, but no top player will ever sign for us. Threat to the piggies with their snouts in the trough, gone. Right now, I would bet every penny I own that Blatter & Co are trawling through every signing involving a youngster, foreign or domestic, we’ve ever made, because they want to build a case against us that is utterly comprehensive and damning, to demonstrate that we are far more culpable than Chelsea this year or Roma in 2005, so that they can then justify a draconian punishment. Meanwhile United, Chelsea, Milan etc, all with track records far worse than our own, will escape with fines and meaningless January shopping bans. Probably a far fetched conspiracy theory, but just in case it's not, you read it here first!

Hilarious...I know lets make an example of City because we have become a major player....

Talk about double standards..By all accounts we have done nothing wrong.Not only the premier league big 4 fearing us but now Fifa trying to pick holes in a perfectly legitimate transfer....If your worried then don't be....Roll on Saturday...By trhe way,on another note,Robinho is becoming a little boring with his so called comments about joining Barcelona..Let him go if he wants...Messi anyone

I knew as soon as i heard chelsea were in trouble that shortly after we would be aswell. I just had a bad feeling cos we're constantly under the spotlight- and i was right. It's quite pathetic all these small clubs suddenly grassing up the big clubs after what happened to chelsea. Knew united would get away with it.

This is ludicrous,they may as well investigate 2/3 of the premiership complete and utter JOKE this is.

It will never stick.

You should expand on this article. Dreossi's full quotes can be found via NewsNow links.

What would be a good idea though would be to get some quotes from the club. Have we followed the letter of the law? What are the consequences for us? What are implications of Dreossi's current wrangle with Rennes? Is there any actual substance to the allegation?

Dreossi suggested that it could be some years before this comes before FIFA so maybe all isn't what it appears. These cases do appear to be very fashionable right now.

Here we go, was only a matter of time.....so it's a witch hunt against the PL then.........

It was always coming. Corruption inside football was always going to stop Man City from progressing into the top tier of world football. From a personal point of view if the Spending ban goes through, it will be the last premiership match i will attend and sky Sports will be getting a cancellation call. It really isnt worth the heartache.

let hope city hasnt done anything wrong when signing this kid has it wont help city if given a transfer ban saying that chelsea got the ban has its wasnt the first time they been done for tapping players ashley cole is one case were the f.a and prem fined chelsea if we do get found guilty then we will get a ban aswell has fifa will wantto make example of us also they hate anything english aswell if it was a spanish or italian side nothing would get done

ooops.
i had a horrible feeling something like this would happen, when i heard about the Chelsea situation.

If City did offer finacial inducements then throw the book at us but by all accounts we didn't and its unlikely we did anything wrong.

However its time to ban all transfers of players under 18 unless the club holding the contract wish to sell. We need this clause to protect the smaller teams from being asset stripped unless they wish to sell.

Lets get on with the important things in life like our first trophy since 76.

If the report in The Guardian is true. Robinho will be going to Barcelona in the Winter Transfer window of this I am absolutely convinced. On his day one of the best in the world. But I do not believe he can handle the challenges of The Premier league. Potentially, could be The King of Football, but I'm afraid that will not happen. I am now beginning to losinge faith in the player as he makes to many statements that are not in the clubs best interest and this to me shows a lack of respect to the club and it's fans. Ronaldo wnet to Real for 80M and Robinho will probably go for 35M, so this illustrates his worth.

I suspect Mark Hughes will release him on the grounds he can only play Robinho in the home games and very few away from Eastlands.

Typically French - Complaining about EVERYTHING and hope for the best!

Wahey!!!! we knew it was coming.

It would appear that the French clubs have got it in for the Premier league (Platini ?). On a personal level it's my belief that no football club should be allowed to purchase or sign any young academy player from any football club in the world untill he is at least 18 yrs old ?. Signing players & removing them from home & friends etc at an earlier stage in development can have a far worse long term problem ?.

Oh here we go...We got the money,this now comes out after the Chelsea ban? Why did they not report this to Fifa when they thought they had a case? Rennes have seen an opportunity to make a quick buck as this, has now in my eyes come out at the wrong time. This is what I can not understand about the Chelsea saga why did it take so long for them to make the ban? What lengths are they going to go, to fulfill their quest to clean up football. I just think that if these incidents are not reported in the season they take place, nothing should be done about it. I mean how far are they going to go back 10,20,30 years, it just doesn't make any sense inducing fines or bans 3-4 seasons after. I just think there is more to this than what actually meets the eye, there is obviously some kind of plot on English football, although two other clubs outside England got the same treatment. I know this is not the right way to go about signings and I'm sure almost every club are guilty of this in one way or another. How do they plan to clean up football, take it out on the English like they did with the bans in Europe. I just feel that because the Premier league is being singled out, as now we have heard of 3 cases; Chelsea,Utd and now City inside 10 days. How many cases in Spain, Germany or even Portugal have we heard of...None, that I know of anyway. I think Fifa have done themselves harm in opening this can of worms, as now we'll see claims dating back to God knows how far back. I mean if a club can prove its happened and its 10 years back, will Fifa ban them too? I'm not so sure. I am only seeing this from a logical point of view and can only see this getting way out of hand. If City are guilty and found out to be, then like Chelsea deserve to be punished but to go on hard evidence, not hearsay. I truly hope that City have not acted in this way as I'm sure we'll find out eventually. Could be dark times affecting the premier league.

The Original Blue John, London


John Although i agree with you,like i said they will have too investigate 2/3 of the Premiership,and i also do not think for one minute that the powers at city will take this lying down,after all the Sheikh can afford the best lawyers to represent us.

The Original Blue John, London 8/09/2009 at 08:59



I think you have made some very valid points here... these comments would not suprise me at all to be the truth of the matter.I like Isaid in my post think there is more than what actually meets the eye.

Great post gave me an even bigger hate margin of Fifa!

Now, before anyone accuses me of racism against the French, let me first say something nice about them. I love their language, I have met some really nice French people and though, sadly, i have never been to the country, it`s one country I`d love to visit. BUT, the French always look after themselves, just think of blockades by their farmers against British goods. They are a most parochial nation.Considering they were assisted so greatly by Britain during two wars, they seem most ungrateful. They have an overt dislike and contempt for Britain (generally speaking). I am sure that many decent French people will disagree with my comments but it happens far too often that France seeks to put Britain down.
Personally, I am sick and tired of all the interference coming from such as Platini, Blatter and the like. There is far too much going on off the field and not enough going on on the pitch !
Flimsy accusations following flimsy accusations (against City and Utd now) and retrospective punishments following "dives", when the result of the game stands anyway; it will ruin fans` enjoyment and breed animosity. Time for some annoying people to zip it.

Maybe we should report United for tapping up Ryan Giggs.......Rennes are just trying it on and shaking the money tree.....no doubt being encoraged by Platini...!!!!

Well i was waiting for this, funny how these allogations are against english clubs, & as for Robhino if he & the club do not make a statement to put these romours to bed then as far as i am concerned he can go as it shows no respect for the club or us the fans, & lets not forget CITY & ROBHINO that peole paid HARD EARNED MONEY to have his name on there shirts, as for mr platini it stinks of conspiracy to me !!! CFL BELEIVE.

Robhino never started every game for Madrid, and often came off when he did. He may start more home games than away. Tactically he may start some games on the bench. Its a squad / team challenge for honours and he's a valued member of the squad who has always spoke positively about City and diplomatically about other clubs.

As for this news. Well, Chelsea will see their ban reduced on appeal. And no one bought much last Januray window which will be the only likely ban, but most likely it will all be supsended ban.

French clubs are governed by the same law as French companies which means they cannot operate at a loss. Expect more of this from the French as they are being stoked up by Platini who is acting only in the interests of his native country. If you read between the lines it is a genuine attempt by FIFA to stop the Premier league clubs from spending excessively by banning them. It is no coincidence that City & Chelsea have been targeted. Quite a clever ploy actually. Only time will tell if it is doomed to failure, although I expect the premier league sponsors will exert some pressure on FIFA if it carries on.

The Original Blue John, London
8/09/2009 at 08:59

I, for one, am in total agreement with you there shipmate. The garlic eating surrender monkeys will do anything to stop the English teams dominating football (as we are). I think a quick call (and small bounty) from Sky Sports to our chaps in Hereford to 'remove permanently' the poisonous rat that is Platini would benefit football beyond recognition. Oh, and if Robinho is really after going to Barcelona it's a 180 degree step change from the 'Sylvinho says Robbie loves Man City' story from a couple of days ago! I think he does love city and while we are winning, he will remain happy. Fear not, in 2-3 years time all the Barcelona squad will be hankering after joining the blue revolution.

Can of worms! CTID

Calm down everyone, Even Dreossi (although the above article doesn't tell you who he is) doesn't expect any action to be taken for a couple of years.

Chelsea will get their ban reduced and by the time our case comes to be heard we will be prepared for it (£340bn buys you some very good lawyers!)

My reading of the situation (I'm a solicitor) is that the French Football Federation gave us the International Transfer Certificate for this player and that everything went by the book. Dreossi said the FFF gave ITC this by mistake? What they sanctioned a transfer by accident? I don't think so.

On this evidence there is absolutely nothing to worry about. In my opinion Rennes should be annoyed that clubs are poaching there young talent but City have done this by the book.

Don't hate the player, hate the game.