Prologue
In a courtroom within the heart of London the fiercest legal battle in football history was taking place between Manchester city and the English FA on the terms that Manchester City had breached 115 FFP regulations. A battle that had been delayed for many months had finally began.
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Judge: Order! This court is now in session. Today we are adjudicating the case of Manchester City versus the English Football Association. Counsel for the EFA, please present your opening statement.
EFA Counsel: Your Honor, esteemed members of the court, the EFA stands here today to defend the integrity of football competitions in England. Manchester City has repeatedly violated financial fair play regulations, jeopardizing fair competition among clubs. The EFA's decision to impose penalties, including a points deduction, is based on substantial evidence of financial misconduct and is essential to uphold the principles of fairness and transparency in our sport.
Judge: Thank you, Counsel. Manchester City Counsel, your response?
Manchester City Counsel: Your Honor, Manchester City acknowledges the importance of financial fair play regulations. However, we contest the severity of the penalties imposed by the EFA. The evidence presented does not conclusively prove any deliberate wrongdoing on our client's part. We believe the EFA's decision is disproportionate and unfairly penalizes Manchester City, impacting our ability to compete in domestic and international competitions.
Judge: Counsel for the EFA, what evidence do you have to support your findings?
EFA Counsel: Your Honor, the EFA conducted a thorough investigation into Manchester City's financial affairs, revealing multiple breaches of financial fair play regulations. These breaches include inflating sponsorship deals to cover up losses and circumvent financial limits set by the EFA. Such actions undermine the integrity of football competitions and must be addressed with strict penalties to maintain a level playing field for all clubs.
Judge: Manchester City Counsel, do you have any evidence to counter these allegations?
Manchester City Counsel: Your Honor, while we acknowledge discrepancies in our financial reporting, we maintain that these were not deliberate attempts to deceive the EFA or gain unfair advantages. Manchester City has cooperated fully with all investigations and remains committed to transparency and compliance with financial fair play regulations.
Judge: Counsel for the EFA, what penalties do you propose?
EFA Counsel: We propose that Manchester City be stripped of all its Titles and Trophies, pay a fine of 1.24 billion dollars from transfers and be relegated to the 4th division of English football and we also want a complete overhaul of the youth and mangerial staff on the team.
Man City Rep: Your honor...
Judge: Silence. I will take a break to determine the outcome of this meeting
--------15 minute later--------
Judge: I have come to a decision after reviewing evidence given to me by both sides. The team Manchester City is to be stripped of its titles, is to pay a fine of 1.24 billion dollars in transfers and be relegated to the 4th level of English football.
Do you have any further statements?
"No your honour" both sides said, one voice twinged with glee and another with only sadness and regret.
"Manchester city is to comply with these terms in 3 months before further action is taken to FIFA" said the old judge
" That is all this meeting is adjourned" the judge said, his voice tinged with exhaustion
Both parties started to walk out the courtroom with a contrast of feelings some with excitement others with fear of what would haappen to their once promising futures.
-------------Outside--------------
A multitide of news vans and cameras from different agencies waited patiently, their lenses focused on the door hoping to capture the expressions of the two organisations that had been battling for over six months over financial fairplay.
As the doors of the courtroom opened the cameras locked onto the expressions of the Man City Reps noting their defeated expressions. City lost, was the thought running through everyone at the scene minds. Hoping to get some light on the happenings of the courtroom they approached the parties, only to get a resounding no from the Man City officials who hopped into their black SUV and drove away.
Seeing this, the reporters on the scene realized they could only interview the representatives of the English Football Association and quickky rushed to them hoping to get the scoop on one of the largest cases in football history and also the large paycheck that came with being the first to report the news.
Noticing the members of the press present the memvers of the EFA welcomed them with open arms regaling them of the tales of what happened in the courtroom, and they were extremely shocked to say the least. They quickly made way back to their respective agencies ready to share the news to football fans all over the world.
------------------3 months later----------------
The last 3 months at Manchester City had been hectic for the players, staff and board of the club, the entire starting eleven of the club and all their bench players had to be put on the transfer list.The first to go was De Bryune with an offer from Al Nassr for about 80 million and they could do nothing but watch him leave throught the club doors.
The next was Silva for 94 million, follwed by Haaland, Rodri and Kyle Walker to Dortmund for 195, 110 and 14 million respectively, Doku to Newcastle for 72.5 million and Phil to AC Milan for 140 million. Oscar Bobb and Sergio Gomez moved to Leicester for 34.5 million and 9 million. Akanji and Lewis were brought to Eredivese side Feynoord for a grand total of 80 million.Alvarez was take to League 1 sife Monaco and Grealish followed rather joining Paris Saint Germain for 86 and 66 million respectively. Mateo Kovacic joined Saudi Pro League team Al Hillal for 26 million and Ruben Dias joined Juventus for 70 million, Nunes later down the line joined Napoli for 45 million. Ederson went back home to join Brazillian side Flamengo for 38 million and John Stones joined Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, Scott Carson moved to League 2 team New Port County for 205k and Stephen Ortega joined Grimsby for 7.8 million and the last players to walk out the clubs doors were Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias who joined Bayern Munich and Sevilla for 36 and 70 million respectively.
City had completed the transfer window with 1.28 billion dollars made in player sales and quickly handed the 1.24 to the EFA, during this period of time the clubs social media accounts had been swiftly losing followers reducing them to some thousands and many comments by the same 'loyal' fans had been made insulting the club and all those who were associated to it.
Of course none of these people payed heed to these petty comments and rather focused on what was going on around the.
------------Zurich,Switzerland------------
Meanwhile in Fifa's headquarters Manchester City's board was recieving what would happen to the once great club that is not even a shadow of what it used to be.
The board representatives watched as Fifas president Gianni Infantino read their case file. He closed the file and raised his head up to them, his eyes cold and calculating.
"As a result of Manchester City losing the case to determine where they did or did not breach 115 FFP regulations, Manchester City lost all its titles, was made to pay 1.24 billion dollars in transfers and relegated to the 4th level of english football." "Is what I said correct?" he asked in a voice befitting for a leader of a Multi billion dollar organization
"Yes you are correct" replied Sheik Mansour
"Okay then..." Infantino said while passing a piece of paper to Mr. Mansour.
Mansour ever the business man picked it up and quickly began to scan what was printed on the sheets of paper while that happened the President continued
"On the paper are the Terms and Conditions Manchester City are to sign if they are to start in EFL league 2. They are in no particular order as follow. The clubs transfer limit is reduced to 5 million euros, the 5 million is not to be spent on the first season on transfers. Etihad stadium is on lock down for 5 years and the club must do a complete staff overhaul.Do you agree to these conditions"
Mansour when just finished reading the T&C's had eyes bloodshot with anger but kept a cool demeanor he grinded his teeth from the sheer audacity but was still able to produce an audible yes and signed the contract.
When he had put his signature and was about to level the president called out to him saying
"Mr Mansour, although we hate it when our rules are broken we at FIFA are giving you a year to rebuild your team and get your ship running but this is going to be counted as the clubs first season at the start of August, so no signing players on the transfer market."
Mansour nodded in understanding and left the building alongside the other board members
Many days after the signing of the contract head Coach Pep Guardiola left Manchester City for good, soon after in a span of 7 days the club had terminated the contract of many staff members and youth academy players. And for the first time since its establishment the Etihad stadium went dark.
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Hope you guys enjoy and give me some feedback so I can improve as I write this fan fic.