La Liga execs have called on UEFA to "take action" against Man City after new leaked files revealed the full extent to which the club is alleged to have "deceived the European body over financial fair play," according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. The leaked documents "appear to show" that tens of millions of pounds that were supposed to have come from sponsor Etihad Airways were "paid directly to the club by the owners." The club is also alleged to have set up a scheme called "Project Longbow" to dodge FFP rules. The scheme included the establishment of a shell company called Fordham Sports Management, which "paid the players for their image rights instead of the club," with Man City's Abu Dhabi owners reimbursing Fordham directly. The scheme "saved millions" from Man City's wage bill and allowed the club to report an extra €30M in marketing income. La Liga President Javier Tebas wrote to UEFA more than a year ago "demanding action" against Man City and Paris St. Germain. The Spanish league said that the documents obtained by German magazine Der Spiegel "provide clear evidence of FFP breaches." La Liga Chief Communications Officer Joris Evers said, "Our position is clear. The leaks validate what we have been saying for more than a year. UEFA should now take action and apply the rules that exist and any sanctions that are necessary." The "most serious claim" concerns Man City's sponsorship deal with Etihad. It is said that the Abu Dhabi United Group, Sheikh Mansour's holding company, which also owns the club, directly paid £59.5M of Etihad's annual sponsorship, with only £8M coming from the airline (LONDON TIMES, 11/6).
'WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT': In London, Jeremy Wilson reported Der Spiegel claimed sponsors from the Man City owner's home country "simply send more money over" should any shortfalls occur and detailed suggestions that "significant parts of sponsorship funds" were provided by the ADUG. It was also alleged that, when Man City CFO Jorge Chumillas asked in one internal email if the club could change the date of payment for the ADUG, board member Simon Pearce replied, "Of course, we can do what we want." Der Spiegel wrote on Monday that Man City had "walked all over the FFP rules" and there is now "a feeling inside the Premier League that these accusations must be investigated." One club source said, "It seems they have found a model that allowed them to get around loopholes. Clubs will be very disappointed if Der Spiegel's stories are true. They will want to feel this has been properly looked into." Another club source said that the investment at Man City "changed football for everyone" and that "the rules should be followed and, if they are not being respected, this should be properly dealt with" (TELEGRAPH, 11/5). The BBC reported UEFA found Man City breached FFP rules in '14 and the two parties "reached a settlement." Der Spiegel called the settlements "weak" and claimed UEFA "wasn't even entirely aware of the degree to which it had been deceived." Der Spiegel reported that, in an internal email, Chumillas wrote in '13, "We will have a shortfall of £9.9m in order to comply with Uefa FFP this season. The deficit is due to RM [former manager Roberto Mancini] termination. I think that the only solution left would be an additional amount of AD sponsorship revenues that covers this gap." Der Spiegel quoted another internal email, sent by Pearce in April '10, regarding an annual £15M deal with investment company Aabar. It read, "As we discussed, the annual direct obligation for Aabar is £3million. The remaining £12m will come from alternative sources provided by His Highness" (BBC, 11/5).
'CLOSED PAYMENT LOOP': In London, Ben Nagle reported Der Spiegel claimed Fordham Sports Management, which was allegedly steered by Jonathan Rowland and his father, David, bought Man City's image rights but was "secretly fed" £11M a year by Sheikh Mansour. It was reported, therefore, that the deal was a "closed payment loop," in which ADUG transferred money to the Rowlands for the purchase of the image rights of their players, which then allowed Man City "to hide the expenditure." Blackfish Capital, the Rowlands' private investment firm, declined a request for comment (DAILY MAIL, 11/6).
Pep Guardiola said that he trusts the club stressed it wants to follow the rules.GETTY IMAGES
'INCREDIBLY PROFESSIONAL': REUTERS' Alan Baldwin reported Man City Manager Pep Guardiola defended the club as "incredibly professional" in response to allegations it "bent" FFP rules. Man City said last week that it would not comment on "out of context materials purported to have been hacked or stolen from City Football Group and Manchester City personnel and associated people." It spoke also of an "organised and clear" attempt to damage its reputation. Asked about the Football Leaks documents, Guardiola said, "What I can say personally is of course I trust a lot with the club and what they have done. And of course we want to follow the rules, whether UEFA, FIFA or the Premier League. ... I don't know what happened because I am a manager. I am focused on what happened on the pitch, in the locker room. About the business, about how they handled this kind of situation, I am completely out (of that)" (REUTERS, 11/6).
