In news that will shock absolutely no one who has been paying attention for the past decade, Manchester City have been found guilty of over 100 charges related to breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. The verdict, delivered this week, marks the first time a club has been found guilty at first instance in a drama so unprecedented that English football's history books are reportedly considering a new chapter titled "We Don't Know What to Do With This."
The hearing itself was a parade of legal firepower that would make a small nation's justice system weep. Leading the charge was David Pannick KC, one of the foremost barristers of his generation, known for representing the rich and powerful. His previous clients include Queen Elizabeth II, Boris Johnson, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and more than one billionaire sheikh. Pannick charges £5,000 an hour - not quite Erling Haaland's £500,000 a week, but enough to make you wonder if he does pro bono for anyone who isn't a monarch or a petrostate. Back in 2019, he charged £407,250 for defending Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, a former Qatari prime minister, in a two-day trial he didn't even attend. The man knows how to bill.
Also on the legal dream team: Paul Harris KC, a leading sport and commercial silk who led City's successful appeal before the court of arbitration for sport (Cas) against Uefa's Champions League ban, and who has been a trusted adviser to the club for over 20 years. Adam Lewis KC, widely regarded as the country's preeminent sports barrister, co-authored the leading textbook in the field and has represented Chelsea at Cas and Premiership Rugby in the Saracens salary cap case. Andrew Hunter KC handled rugby's "bloodgate" and Formula One's "spygate" - where McLaren were fined $100m (then £50m) and docked all their points for possessing Ferrari documents. Jason Pobjoy KC, who represented the Premier League in Everton's points deduction and argued their conduct increased costs, also represented the league alongside Lewis. Everton were ordered to pay only £1.7m of the £4.9m the league sought, with Everton calling the fees "eye-watering." Pobjoy is best known for civil liberties and human rights law, which is a fun contrast.
Meanwhile, Rodri, the Barcelona midfielder and former City stalwart, has come out swinging in defense of his old club. "We have faced something similar back in 2020, we had a similar judicial process," he said. "Different accusation but similar process. There as well in the first instance we were found guilty, but we believed in the club and the innocence that the club maintained and in the end we ended up acquitted. So, I believe in the justice system, and I believe in the innocence of the club." Asked if the talk hurts, Rodri waxed philosophical: "For us, the players, it is a different thing than for you guys. I can understand all kind of opinions, and it is something that now is big. But we always tried to think in a positive way, when you live that club daily and the people who have worked hard all these years to have all the success we had. Not only Pep [Guardiola] and the players but all the structure, from the owners to the guys who worked daily. What we did, they cannot take it out of us. It is something that is not paid by money, it is paid with effort, with partnership and with being shoulder to shoulder every day. We had a lot of success over the years and here in Wembley, so I can tell you everything was deserved and I'm glad I could live one of the best eras of English football."
In other news, Liverpool have appointed Julian Ward as their sporting director for a second time following the departure of Richard Hughes to Al-Hilal. Because nothing says "stability" like rehiring the guy you replaced.
England host Spain at Wembley this evening, and Thomas Tuchel was asked yesterday if Spain's possession-based style gives them an advantage. "I think it is an advantage in general. Not only against us, but against everyone," Tuchel said. "This is how they play. I think they rely on that. This is how they train and they were brought up. This is clearly part of them. But at the moment, I think the more you analyse Spain and their last matches they played in, you have to admire the way in which they defend. They added this to their game. It is collective work and they are masters of delaying and pushing you towards wide areas where they can initiate the press. They have world class goalkeepers, as you know - three of them - but they are hardly tested. It is so difficult for every single team in the world to create chances against them. We have a plan and we have ambition, and we want to prove the opposite. We want to be the exception to the rule, but at the moment they are a very complete team."
There are 10 Nations League fixtures today and two WSL games, so plenty to keep you occupied while you refresh your news feed for the latest on City's inevitable appeal. The club still denies all allegations, even when proven at the first instance, and hasn't been found guilty of all 100-plus charges. So maybe they can spin this as a vital away charge to take into the appeal. Trust the process, asterisk the asterisk, and remember: innocent until repeatedly proven guilty, pending mega-bucks final appeals.