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James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Hello David, welcome back to the 685th episode of a quick brew. Maybe not.
David Bancroft: I was going say, did I hibernate for a decade?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Well, I do want to be hibernating at the minute with it. I mean, that's cubed my middle name for today. Fascinated James, fascinated Sharples because we're both football fans.
David Bancroft: Big time.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: you know, I'm an avid lead supporter. I don't necessarily watch
David Bancroft: Never mind.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: a lot of football. I'll watch the leads game here and there. not like an avid
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: goer to the football like you are with Southend United.
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: I'll get heavily involved in international tournaments, but I'm still a keen supporter of football, understand the
David Bancroft: Yes.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: football, understand the business and like to understand the league. And
David Bancroft: A FAXA BEAUTIFUL GAME
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: the beautiful game and yeah, this decision that's been sort of looming, I think it's for two years it's been looming now of
David Bancroft: Charged in February, 2023. I've got the facts with me, James.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Three, it's, I think it's drawn a, but I'm just absolutely fascinated. I mean, was gobsmacked initially to find that they've actually been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges. And that.
David Bancroft: And again, it's not that I'm legal counsel on this call, reportedly found guilty.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Reportedly found guilty. They're obviously going to contest it, but I've been listening to I've literally been mesmerized by it. I've been consumed by it as agent Smith would say in the matrix.
David Bancroft: Yes. my favorite, as you know.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: It's just taken off. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it all weekend because what does it actually mean? The one thing I found frustrating is they've obviously released the fact that they've been allegedly or reportedly found guilty
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: of 114 out of 115 charges, but no sentence.
David Bancroft: Yes. So, yeah, let's just look at the facts just for a minute. So if everyone can orientate Man City, obviously the team in question here. We're talking about charges from February, 2023. The allegations cover financial information, player and manager remuneration, which a lot of people struggle to pronounce, but as I'm in recruitment, I've that one now. UA for roles, PSR and alleged failure to... cooperate the financial allegations stretch back to 2009-2010 season and the commission hearing took place and this is odd to me as well in September to December 2024. So we're here what will be released in this episode in October 26 but the actual commission
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: 26.
David Bancroft: hearing took place between September and December 2024. So as you correctly say the figure of 114 out of 115 charges as being widely reported are proven.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: And I think that was important. The point that you made there on the cooperation, because a lot of people I've been speaking to have said, yeah, but look at what Chelsea, they only got 10 million, but they opened up the books and were working alongside.
David Bancroft: Well they blew the whistle on themselves.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Yeah. They were, they, they was like, we know we've done wrong. We know that it was under a previous tenure. That's now, but we want to accept the punishment. We want to work with you alongside this and let's get to the bottom of it. What do you need? And basically essentially
David Bancroft: Exactly.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: opened the doors to let the Premier League in.
David Bancroft: So that's interesting. think the point that you were making just before I went into my statto moment there was that there's no, were you saying there's no statement as to what the actual punishment will be? Is that what you saying? Sorry.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: No, but then it's got to be seismic.
David Bancroft: It's got to be seismic. As I understand it and I listen to talk sport as many football fans no doubt do, read on Sky Sports News and everything else that we consume, the FA and the Premier League don't publish a tariff of punishments because otherwise a team, let's just say Man City, might look at the punishment and think, hmm, 50
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Hmm.
David Bancroft: million quid fine. Yeah, we could bear that. Let's do it. And they'll do that.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Yeah, well, this is, you know, speaking of that, that's the financial, a financial charge is not going to be sufficient. You know, it's like essentially giving a billionaire a speeding ticket. Do know it's or
David Bancroft: Yeah, exactly.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: a parking ticket. Yeah, yeah, sound. It's.
David Bancroft: Yeah, you always see a Lamborghini parked up on double yellow lines outside Harrods, don't you?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: This is what I mean. a financial penalty is not necessarily going to cause any harm to Manchester City or cause any immediate problems. However, I think
David Bancroft: nothing they can't deal with you.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: the financial penalty, depending on again, what the full list of charges are and the severity of it, but I mean, this fraud is in there essentially,
David Bancroft: Yep.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: know, falsely reporting income to make it
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: inflated to therefore they could spend more money. It's fraud. And the fact that they have been so closed off with the Premier League and just said, no, we've done nothing wrong. And they're standing by that statement now. You one of the things that I heard the owner say was like, no, we stand by, nothing's
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changed.
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: It has changed though, hasn't it? Because they found you
David Bancroft: So, yeah.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: guilty. So the landscape has massively changed. you can't just go out and say
David Bancroft: Reportedly.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: nothing's changed because it has. So the whole landscape has changed now.
David Bancroft: Yeah, If someone's throwing the book at you and saying, think of 115 charges, we can comfortably prove 114 of those, then it's pretty brazen to say, yeah, we're still contesting this. Nothing's changed here.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Nothing's changed. Yeah. Nothing's changed yet. Well, it has because everything's changed. And I heard other reports that they've this one I didn't understand, you know, reports from inside the club at City were saying that it's worse than so much worse than the worst case scenario they could have predicted for. It's like,
David Bancroft: seriously?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: does that just not show your arrogance again? You know,
David Bancroft: Mmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: it's so hard. fine, we're city, we've got the best lawyers. But at
David Bancroft: Yeah.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: end of the day, everything that they've done over that tenure is null and void. They cheated their way to it and they've cheated
David Bancroft: Yeah. Yeah, so.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: at so many other... So for me, when you look at the likes of Everton, when you look at the likes of Nottingham Forest and the things
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm. Yep.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: that happened there, for example, the six point deduction for one
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: breach because the other one got overturned, it, for Everton, that's one breach.
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm. Yep. Yes. Mm-hmm. Yep.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Burnley sued them 30 million. This is the other, the other dollars. If they are found guilty and they're
David Bancroft: Who else does it affect?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: handed a severe punishment and it has to be severe because in my
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: mind it's about the legacy of the decision. You know, if they just go, right,
David Bancroft: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: you've got 30 point, 30 point deduction and 50 million fine. If I was a club like Newcastle or Aston Villa, I'd be going, fuck it, I'll sign everyone then. I will literally, if that's
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: the, if that's the penalty, fuck it. Let's go to town.
David Bancroft: Well, Newcastle literally could sign anyone and everyone if they weren't abiding by the laws.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: I remember when he bought the club for the amount that he did, I did a stat that he could have bought it 1,019
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: more times with the wealth that he has. So if I was a
Newcastle in that situation and that's
David Bancroft: Yeah, that's hilarious.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: that punishment isn't deemed severe enough, then I would be going to town. I'd be going like, Riel, buy everyone. I'll just buy everyone.
David Bancroft: Mm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: And then in two, three years time, get slapped with a 30 point deduction and a 50 million fine. Brilliant. to take that.
David Bancroft: I think the sadness is, you know, football fans should, and this isn't about tribes or this isn't about allegiances or your own colours, football fans should want Man City in the Premier League. They should want any competitive team in the Premier League because,
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: 100 %
David Bancroft: you know, you are paying to watch entertainment, you're paying to watch the challenge and when you... achieve greatness and win a league or an FA Cup or Champions League or whatever it should have been hard fought. Now what no one is paying for is a team to cheat their way to silverware.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: this is why the punishment has to be seismic. It has to set an example to any other team considering doing the same thing.
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm. Yep.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: have City fans understandably upset and I do feel sorry for the City fans because it's not the fans fault that this happened. Absolutely good.
David Bancroft: Hey, you're begutted, you're paying for your season ticket, you're buying the shirts and what not.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: But they're up Talksports saying, look, Chelsea did this. Yes, yeah they did. That's
David Bancroft: Yeah, it's yeah.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: why the rules were put in place.
David Bancroft: And I don't think it's a solid argument either. I don't think that's a great
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: No.
David Bancroft: argument to have at all. And similarly, if you start referencing Everton, for example, then if one breach is worth eight points, what does, should they be proven, 114 warrant?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: What do you think is a worthy penalty considering that the amount of clubs that have won... Steven Gerrard would have won a at Liverpool. Mourinho
David Bancroft: Yep yep Stevie G yep yep
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: would have won a title at Man United. The amount of Stoke would have won the FA Cup final, potentially.
David Bancroft: I wouldn't want to be a fan of a club who's been gifted a title because of a legal challenge. I think you should celebrate a title on the final day of the season. And I know that the argument will always be if they are found guilty and whatever happens with them, they should never have been in position to win them. But at the same time, I think if you've won the title, should celebrate it in that moment, not a decade later.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Not historically, but then look at Lance Armstrong. They're essentially the Lance Armstrong of football.
David Bancroft: Yes, yeah in a different
way but in a you know lots of similarities aren't there. In fact did Pep win six prems?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: I think so, yes.
David Bancroft: Did Lance win six Tour de France's?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: think so, yes. So when you... And the... That's interesting.
David Bancroft: Might need fact checking, but that's interesting. Symmetry.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: you'd have to make the punishment so severe that nobody else... The air people find it justified. I remember Gabby on the talk spot this morning saying that if the decision is light and it's nowhere near enough on what it should be, you said, I think the team should just go and strike. And I think they would have every right to do so. For me...
David Bancroft: I agree.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: For me, I agree with you about the previous titles, be if, if the strict fact, but don't hand them to somebody else. It's going to cut open a can of worms, but
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: it should be, I think down to the lower echelons of the football pyramid. there should be entered into league two or even national conference essentially kicked out of the football
David Bancroft: Come on Southend.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: leagues. They should be, yeah, kicked out of the leagues. They should have to maybe reapply and come, you know, like if a club goes under and bankrupt for basically for misspending and into administration. I think it should be
David Bancroft: into administration.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: a similar process for Manchester City after all the ways that they've cheated. I think that then should have to pay a hefty fine. But then think about
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: all of the all of the different clubs. So there's nine years worth of teams have probably potentially relegated. There's nine
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: years worth of teams that they've probably knocked out of various competitions. There's nine years worth of teams that they've probably beaten to European or championship qualification. This, I think it's going to be one of the biggest scandals in football history. And it's going to open a massive can of worms. And I'm literally sitting with the popcorn. I feel horrible for the city fans.
David Bancroft: Yeah, yeah, yeah,
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: But I'm just absolutely encapsulated by it.
David Bancroft: yeah. Well, we've watched from afar and we've admired Man City, obviously, as a footballing team. And you can't knock that. But if it's all built
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: No.
David Bancroft: on deceit, deception, bending
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Yeah.
David Bancroft: of regulations, et cetera, you know, they're there for a point. those regulations
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Yeah.
David Bancroft: and if you breach them knowingly, which they will have done no doubt, then you have
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: 100 %
David Bancroft: to take your medicine. For
me, it's actually exactly what you've said there. It's expulsion from the Premier League and I say sit them in League Two. Now I don't know what that means for the club. Perhaps it would implode on itself and disappear from existence, but it wouldn't have been through any fault other than their own. They will have brought that
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: in the room.
David Bancroft: to their doorstep. And yet, of course, that means the squad gets stripped and raided and Harland becomes... The strike of the arse north wanted.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: I'll contact Harland. Do fancy coming on and continuing your dad's legacy at Leeds? Come on lad. I can't afford to pay you the 750
David Bancroft: There you go, mate. Yeah, there you go.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: grand a week, but I was 40. Do reckon you...
David Bancroft: But then what do they pay him? Because clearly you can't trust those numbers either, can you? I was reading about Mancini. that's exactly it.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: What exactly? You can't trust any of those numbers. Like the manager that was on the double contract, Mangini, had contracts in consultancy.
David Bancroft: A couple of those consultants a year, that's a couple of mil. And you contract that's a million quid a year. Interesting.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Absolutely ridiculous. Absolutely. if there was a fan on on Talksport earlier that was saying if you
David Bancroft: Hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: were in any other industry, there would be people going to jail for this. It's fraud. It's criminal. And
David Bancroft: Yeah. Yeah. Yep.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: this again is why the punishment has to be so severe. It has to be.
David Bancroft: So I for expulsion from the Premier League. Now whether that be to League 2, as in the foot of the league structure, or whether that be relegation by virtue of
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: I mean, I think.
David Bancroft: a 100 point deduction or whatnot, think one way or other they shouldn't be allowed.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: But then that would have to be over continued seasons, wouldn't it? Because if you just gave them the 100 point deduction this season, they're going to go down to the
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: championship. You'd have to introduce another point deduction the following season. And there were loads of people saying, that's unreasonable. You can't keep punishing them for years. No, you cheated for nine. You cheated for nine years. So why not have nine years
David Bancroft: Mm. Mm, mm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: worth of punishment? Does the punishment fit the crime? Other leagues obviously got to accept and agree with this, but I think it would be an easy acceptance if you basically then said to the people in league two and league, there's going to be additional promotion spot this year for each of them. like, yep, sound. Thank you very much. It's,
David Bancroft: Go for that. Yep.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: it's, will have that. It's absolutely fascinating. And I cannot wait to see what the results are for it. Just, just from a perspective
David Bancroft: Yeah.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: of. I'm just hugely intrigued. Nothing like this has ever happened in football before. The Aguero moment didn't happen.
David Bancroft: It's sad really, isn't it?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: It is.
David Bancroft: I don't think consecutive years of punishment is workable. I don't think that that's likely either for a number of reasons, as much as I understand your point, but it kind of doesn't matter if they would find them a hundred or 500 points. know, the consequences is same. They're going to be relegated, aren't they? Because not even city. can achieve more than a hundred points and survive obviously. But yeah, I don't know. It's a weird time to involved with the club, no doubt. I was pretty suspiciously in the last year when Pep announced on very short notice, actually it's been a pleasure, but it's time for me to move on. I don't think his work there was necessarily done and
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Nope.
David Bancroft: it seemed interesting, but City have wriggled out of something. not entirely dissimilar with UEFA in the past. I don't know you remember they were banned from champions league and they got back in.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: the contest appealed it, then this, it's a very, different situation. I don't see any grounds,
David Bancroft: But is that where this attitude comes from?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: potentially, but I don't see any grounds for appeal because they've been found guilty. So I don't see any.
David Bancroft: I mean, you always have the opportunity to appeal a decision, don't you? Whether it's fair or otherwise, you can still appeal it. If you want to throw resource at it, you can always appeal a decision in that respect. I think though they've closed off or would close off one of the routes, was, think the, what was it? Court for Arbitration and Sport, don't think is an option in this context.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: I think the only option for them is high court.
David Bancroft: Yeah, beyond the appeal.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: beyond football, so to speak.
David Bancroft: with the Premier League. But then you're just wrapping it up in years. You're wrapping it up in years and years. And at that point, they're active. They're competing week in, week out in the Premier League.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: And I think I think from the counter arguments that they've made, they've already made a god for their own back in the sense that they've said, no, there was prejudice. No, no, come on. Don't grasp onto anything you've done wrong.
David Bancroft: Mm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Accept your punishment. Yes, it's going to cost you. You should have thought about that at the time.
David Bancroft: So you're not inclined to think this is witch hunt. You think this is legit.
James 'Fascinated'
Sharples: No, I think, I think they believe they were holier than thou. They think they believe that the rules didn't apply to them. The powers that be that were at that football club. you know, you look at a team like Newcastle, that has to constantly sell its players year on year to fall in line with FFP. And you've got teams like City that are like, essentially just going, I'll do what I want. Thank you very much. so. It's the and this is why the punishment has to be harsh. don't think a point deduction will work because that will only relegate them to the championship. And if we know city that can then maybe speak to their players, convince them to stick. I mean, it'd be difficult. Be a lot more difficult because of the caliber of play that they have. They're looking at internationals and wanting to go for Champions League and European trophies, obviously.
David Bancroft: It's legacy that, you know, people don't generally talk about championships goals scored if you're talking about
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Yeah.
David Bancroft: someone like Erlen Harland when you're talking about top flight goals scored. So it takes a season out of his career, doesn't it?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: But you would imagine with the stockpiling that they've done on recent years and have young talent, they do have and young people throughout the club. Then
David Bancroft: Mm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: you they're they're going to come straight back up after the championship. It's just the championship. So this is why I think this is why I think it has to
David Bancroft: They should do. mean, you know, that their third string would be competitive, I think.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: be expulsion and reapplication.
David Bancroft: I mean, that is a heavy penalty, but why not? You know?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: I think it'll set a precedent to, because if Newcastle, if I were Newcastle, if I were Villa, I would be watching the situation because the city have also gone about it in completely the wrong way in that
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: we've never done anything wrong. No, you can't, no, we're not helping you out. No, find it out yourself. We're not letting you in anywhere near this. the fact
David Bancroft: Hmm. It's obstructive.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: that they have been so obstructive
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: and guarded and secretive about it. They have gone
David Bancroft: Mm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: about it in the worst possible way. So therefore, if I was in Newcastle and a Villa and I'd watched all of this unfold and
David Bancroft: Hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: seeing them get everything that they've kept private from the premier league, and then the fine isn't justifiable to be serious enough, then I'd be like, get ready.
David Bancroft: Hmph.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Cause I'm going to town next season.
David Bancroft: weaponize. So
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Ahem.
David Bancroft: do you have any idea why it's taken us so long to get from the hearing to here? And even now it's not officially reached. Do you have any idea? Because I don't know.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: I think, I think a lot of it has to, I think a lot of it has to do with the previous case that city had and the fact that they appealed and won. So I think the premier league
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: have taken the time to make sure that everything is literal. And this is why I worry about their appeal. Now. I think the premier league have taken this long to do it, to have just cast iron. Basically not
David Bancroft: Belt and braces.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: beautiful evidence to basically
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: to be able to sanction. punishment that they see fit and I genuinely do think it is going to be seismic. And I think that's why it's taken this length of time. And that's what also
David Bancroft: Hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: makes me feel for Man City fans and such, because I don't think Man City will win the appeal.
David Bancroft: So if they were fined heavily, put a number on it, a hundred million, let's say. So
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: I know.
David Bancroft: if they're fined a hundred million, given a transfer embargo for two seasons, I'm just pulling random ideas out, three seasons, yeah, three seasons
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Think it needs to be longer. Think it needs to be longer.
David Bancroft: transfer embargo, a hundred million fine and 50 points in the Premier League. Yeah. Realistically, they've got young players,
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: if I was new at Castle.
David Bancroft: They've got all the resource in the world and that wouldn't relegate them. That's not enough, is it?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: No, and if I was Newcastle and Villa, I'd be like, sound game on. In Wayne's World style. It has to be, has to be expulsion. It has to be expulsion. think that's the only...
David Bancroft: So straight to League 2 or out in the cold and reapply.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Well, you think 100 million fine as well. 100 million fine. That's nothing to city. Absolutely nothing to city. They were talking about the again, the cases that other clubs could bring against them and the estimate that those cases could could equate to a billion. Whether if you think of like Burnley at 30 million. So if you think of three teams per season that have been relegated,
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: you know, you're already talking that it's close to 100 million a season. There's nine seasons of that.
David Bancroft: Hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: You then talking about clubs that they've knocked out of Champions League, knocked out of cups that they've beaten to European places. could be into the billions
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: of the compensation that other clubs seek from them. It's all
hearsay at the minute, isn't it?
David Bancroft: It is all hearsay and because they don't have a published tariff of punishments, you know, until they decide and frankly, they're deciding how badly do we hurt them and they're making decision. Is it relegation? Is it an expulsion? Is it something else? I mean, they have unlimited options.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Yeah.
David Bancroft: But if they do go too lenient, then I do think a real possibility beyond the financial consequence, i.e. lawsuits would potentially be that strike action which would cripple the league and
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: It would.
David Bancroft: enforce them into a corner, wouldn't it?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Yeah, absolutely. But I'm consumed by it. Like I say, it's... I was surprised that it was 114 out of 115. I thought that their lawyers
David Bancroft: Yeah.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: are certainly... But then this is again why I think it's taken so long. And this is again why I
David Bancroft: Mm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: really doubt their grounds. or their
David Bancroft: Yep.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: ability to appeal because I think that they've
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: been working so long and so hard on this case to present everything as factual undeniable tricks
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: that they're submitting to ensure that there isn't a failed appeal like there was last time. And yeah, I think watch, watch this space. But again, this is the problem with communication, it? When you do say something like this and you don't follow it up with the actual punishment, because that's going to have to happen quite quickly. This can't drag on for more years and years to come. They realistically could lift the trophy this year after all of this has been found out.
David Bancroft: Well, yeah, they could, but they haven't officially announced it yet. City haven't conducted the appeal. haven't. I mean, I don't know if there
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Well, I don't think I...
David Bancroft: is any precedent for it to happen this season. I think it could well drag. I think it could drag into years. I think they could. It shouldn't.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: It can't. It can't. It can't. It can't. can't. Not not not now it's been presented and not now that it's that it's out that it was one hundred and fourteen of one hundred and fifteen charges. People will want blood quickly on this, especially your.
David Bancroft: They will. If it took two and a half years to get to the point of deciding the charges we leveled against you, we're happy with 114 out of 115, should it not potentially then take years to disprove that
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Well,
David Bancroft: from Citi's perspective?
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: but then... mean, the punishment has to be known because there'll be no point for cities to appeal if they don't know what the punishment is. You know, if the independent body does turn around and go, right, we're going to give you a 20 million fine. Sound. Yeah, not a problem. Check. Bump. Gone. Yeah. Yeah.
David Bancroft: yeah, you chew that up. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: So I think an idea of the gravity of punishment needs to be released quite
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: quickly.
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Because people need to, because if you leave it to the whispers in the corridors, everybody's going to make up their own decisions. And this is why you see so many city fans getting upset now. When you, when you hear them ringing into sort of place like Talksport, I've heard this, I've heard this, I've heard this. It's if you leave it to the whispers in the corridors and that's what we do so much work with communication within companies in Wellerty. That's the
David Bancroft: Obviously.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: worst thing that you can do. So something needs to
David Bancroft: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: be released, something needs to be released quickly and it needs to be finalized.
David Bancroft: Again, I just don't know what a protocol is. you know, ideal world, they would announce it now. You have a short appeal window against the backdrop of if it's proven to be 114 of 115, this is the consequence. And then it's executed on quickly either way. But I don't know if there's any protocol for this. I honestly change it. I honestly could imagine this,
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Well, something like this would never happen before.
David Bancroft: but that's what I'm saying. I could imagine in years, we're still at a point where they haven't meted out the decision on this.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: I think Pep leaving this year and Rodri leaving this year and other players that we're discussing leaving that something is
David Bancroft: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: known inside the club and
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: that I think something will be enforced this year.
David Bancroft: It's a saga, but I think it's gonna go on for longer than that. And I'm not talking about this side of Christmas,
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: We shall see what happens.
David Bancroft: I'm talking about this season. I don't think it's gonna be concluded this season. I want it to be made desperately. want to know what, I don't want to know what the Premier League looks like. I don't want every game to be played against the backdrop of their cheats and shouldn't be in the division.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Well, that's why again, why I think people, can you imagine if they do win the title again this year? It's
David Bancroft: They're top in a moment.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: top at the moment and it's, everybody will be saying, well, they cheated it. They cheated it. It's get the decision done now, get
David Bancroft: Mm-hmm.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: the punishment done now. And then you don't leave that door open for, it'd be chaos.
David Bancroft: Mate, I totally agree with you. I just know that football is no longer a sport. It's a business. And when you're talking about the kind of business in question, I don't think things happen quickly at all, unfortunately. So I'd love it to be the case. And I actually entirely agree with you. All the reasons why it should be expedited is too big a business. I think the machine is too, too powerful. And it will roll on irrespective of the outcome. Even if it goes against them, I think that they will be holding on by their fingernails I think it's going to become a saga and it will become an embarrassment to our national game. It will become an embarrassment to Premier League. I think it might call into doubt some of the sponsors. You know, some of them from an ethical perspective might say, well, look, we
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Yeah.
David Bancroft: don't want to support this. farce and circus. You know, I completely lost respect for Formula One when Verstappen won his first title against Lewis Hamilton. You know, I can't
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Hamilton.
David Bancroft: accept that that was fair because there was
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Great.
David Bancroft: a set of rules that operated outside of it. And the FIA and Associated turned a blind eye to it, didn't accept appeals and allowed it to stand. Completely lost respect for a sport that I've followed my entire life. And it wasn't just a issue with the fact that I would have rathered Lewis to win and beat Verstappen and claim a historic title. It was with the perspective of there's rules there for a reason. They breached them entirely for their own benefit and
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: benefit and gain.
David Bancroft: then managed to bastardize the outcome of not just a race, but an entire title. I think that's what's happening here.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: We shall see. We're just going to have to watch this space.
David Bancroft: think it has dealt for a straight, bastardized word of the day.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Asterize, word of the day, I like it. Ding!
David Bancroft: Strongs.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: And I'd be keen to hear your opinions. If you're listening to the pod, send us your opinions, comment on the post. What do you think is a fair punishment? How long do you think it's going to go on for? Just let us know your thoughts about it. But until next time,
David Bancroft: Yeah,
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: Dave.
David Bancroft: mate, let's do it. Let's do it. On to the next one. Thanks for listening. Cheers, guys.
James 'Fascinated' Sharples: quick brew.