Ross Higham retweeted
Newcastle sold out St. James’ Park every match-day in the Championship.
Manchester City can’t even sell out on a Champions League night after winning everything there is to win.
The soul matters. The culture matters.
In fact, it matters a hell of a lot more than winning.
Ross Higham retweeted
Just a reminder, Man City, "the most profitable club with the biggest revenue in world football"
Had their CL tickets against the reigning CL champions on general sale up until yesterday, then took them off to put on an app for uni kids for a tenner.
Fucking tinpot cheaters.
Ross Higham retweeted
It's been a privilege to have watched his entire career from beginning to end. Plenty of other greats began their careers before I was in my teens but with Messi, people of my age (37) have been there for every kick.
The greatest to ever lace up a pair of boots.
Ross Higham retweeted
The way City/Abu Dhabi are behaving with the UK government - threats, intimidation, aggressive lobbying - can we rule out that they haven’t behaved this way with players, clubs and referees in order to get their own way? Becoming a bigger stain on our game with each passing day.
Ross Higham retweeted
Curiouser and curiouser
As @DamianHastie points out, in 2015 the US depts of Commerce, State + Transport launched an inquiry into whether Etihad were receiving govt subsidies
Etihad statement to commission was:
"The assertion that the Abu Dhabi government paid for Etihad's sponsorship of English Premier League football club Manchester City is … false. In 2011, Etihad and Manchester City entered into a 10-year sponsorship agreement, which included naming rights for Manchester City's stadium. Etihad funded this sponsorship from its own liquidity’
Ross Higham retweeted
You have to feel for Etihad Airways, owned by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund chaired by Sheikh Mansour’s brother, getting caught up in all this.
Thoughts also go out to Man City’s other sponsors: First Abu Dhabi Bank, Experience Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, Aldar Properties of Abu Dhabi, Masdar Energy of Abu Dhabi, and e& telecoms of Abu Dhabi.
Quite the coincidence. 💀😂
Ross Higham retweeted
English football owes Arsene Wenger an apology trib.al/kYvy4wO
Ross Higham retweeted
Etihad threatening to sue. UAE reportedly intimating that UK investment could be pulled. A Prime Minister couching any criticisism. If this sorry saga doesn't convince you that state ownership of football clubs should never be allowed, nothing ever will.
Ross Higham retweeted
Ferran Soriano, the man Pep just backed is CC’d in the email below clearly showing a City staff member instruct how to divide payments between Etihad and “ADUG” (Ownership). Ferran was aware of it all.
Image 2 shows a City employee clearly trying to hide the ADUG money. INSANE.
Ross Higham retweeted
There is obviously a massive stain on the Pep Guardiola legacy, both for the Negreira case and the 115 charges.
And although the level in which City were cheating is unprecedented, we must acknowledge how a team like Chelsea fared despite spending so much money illegally too.
City won at an unprecedented level.
Chelsea were a basket case without a single meaningful title challenge in the last decade.
Pep Guardiola is still, pound-for-pound, the GOAT.
He shaped the sport tactically AND won the most, even if the blemish on his managerial career is HUGE.
Ross Higham retweeted
Prophetic from Arsène Wenger speaking in 2011 - “We face rivals who do not respect the financial fair play, and instead of us being accused, maybe people should look somewhere else” 🎥
Ross Higham retweeted
"They are a financially doped club.
"They have enhancement of performances through financial resources which are unlimited. For me, it's a kind of doping because it's not in any way linked to their resources."
Arsene Wenger re: Chelsea in 2005. Same shit, different club.
Ross Higham retweeted
He warned us before anyone else. He built a stadium, kept the Arsenal at the top with integrity, dignity and class.
Today proves he was right all along. The greatest ever. There’s only one Arsène Wenger.
Ross Higham retweeted
When I wrote about this image rights sham for The Independent in 2018, Manchester City threatened to sue us and demanded I tweet out a personal apology on here. We fought them. They did not sue us.
City's sham is confirmed by the Premier League today independent.co.uk/sport/foot…
Ross Higham retweeted
Can we take a moment and appreciate the likes of David Ornstein who was brave enough to break the biggest story in the history of the Premier League. The integrity, bravery and professionalism is the pinnacle of this industry.
Rep on the line.
Thank you @David_Ornstein. Wow.
Ross Higham retweeted
Big up Declan Rice. Had the chance to go to City and almost guarantee trophies, but knew that even just one properly earned trophy with us was worth more than any amount of tainted titles up there. No doubt they were offering him plenty of incentives to make that move. Real one.