Manchester City are allegedly the subject of a three-year Premier League investigation on illegal payments, sponsorship deals and hidden salary payments, according to German newspaper Der Spiegel.
The publication, working with the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) journalism network, also undertook their own investigation with their findings suggesting City have been questioned on these three areas.
Der Spiegel alleges City pressured underage players "to sign contracts through monetary payments, in violation of the rules", and of paying a "significant portion" of former manager Roberto Mancini's compensation with a "fictitious consultancy contract".
The German outlet also claims sponsors in Abu Dhabi only provide a "portion of their payments" to the club, with owner Sheikh Mansour – a member of the Abu Dhabi ruling family – covering the difference.
City are said to believe Der Spiegel's claims are part of an orchestrated attempt to cause damage to the club amid a crucial period on the pitch, following the publication's previous reporting of Financial Fair Play (FFP) irregularities.
The newspaper reported in November 2018 that it had seen internal documents showing City officials discussed how to wipe out a £9.9million shortfall five years earlier.
That sparked an investigation by UEFA in 2018, with the governing body issuing a two-season ban from European competition and a €30million fine to City for "serious breaches" of FFP regulations between 2012 and 2016.
However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) subsequently investigated the matter in 2020 and overturned the ban, finding no "conclusive evidence" on inflated sponsorship deals, despite acknowledging City had shown a "blatant disregard" to UEFA's investigation.
City lost a ruling by the court of appeal the following year that confirmed they were under continued investigation by the Premier League for alleged FFP breaches.
The club's legal team did not want it reported that it was challenging the jurisdiction of Premier League arbitrators, while also fighting a request to disclose documents and information to the panel in the case.
O'Hara announces retirement from football
Two-time Women’s World Cup winner, Kelley O’Hara has announced that she will retire from football at the end of the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.
Between 2011 and 2023, she played in four Women’s World Cups, becoming just the 12th US player to reach that landmark, and three Olympic Games, winning a gold medal in 2012.
The 35-year-old finished her international career with 160 caps, scoring three goals, including a winner in the semi-final en route to winning the Women’s World Cup in 2015, and assisting 21.
She also won three championships, one in the now-defunct Women’s Professional Soccer and two in the NWSL, helping NJ/NY Gotham FC to their first title last season.
O’Hara said: "It has been one of the greatest joys to represent my country and to wear the U.S. Soccer crest."
"As I close this chapter of my life, I am filled with gratitude. Looking back on my career I am so thankful for all the things I was able to accomplish but most importantly the people I was able to accomplish them with."
Atlanta United v Minnesota United: Five Stripes not concerned by winless run
Atlanta United are not concerned by their winless run in MLS, so says Caleb Wiley.
The Five Stripes have not won in four MLS games, ahead of a home meeting with Minnesota United on Saturday.
Wiley, however, believes Atlanta’s attacking play has been such that it is only a matter of time until results start turning.
“It will come,” said Wiley. “We are creating so many chances. I know it is frustrating, but the goals will come. We are not worried because we have the talent to do that [score goals].
“We know that it is still early in the season. We still have a lot more games to go. We have so much more to learn. That is what we are all excited about; that is what I am excited about for this team. We have so much more to do, and to show everybody.”
Looking ahead to this weekend’s fixture, Atlanta coach Gonzalo Pineda said: “We have watched all the games.
“We have prepared tactically for whatever lineup or structure they present. So, it is about our principles and how we play. How we can balance their backline, and how we can create enough chances for our attacking players to be near the goal line.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Atlanta United – Thiago Almada
Almada has 11 goals and 13 assists in regular-season home matches since the start of last season, one of two players (Luciano Acosta) with at least 10 goals and 10 assists in home matches in that time.
Minnesota United – Robin Lod
Lod has recorded an assist in four straight matches, equalling Darwin Quintero (2018—19) for the longest regular-season streak in Minnesota United’s history. He is the first Loons’ player to do so within a single season.
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA UNITED WIN
Atlanta’s eight-match home unbeaten run in all competitions (W6 D2) ended with a 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati on April 20. Atlanta have lost consecutive home matches in all competitions in nearly three years, since losing to New England and Columbus in July 2021.
The Five Stripes have won four of five all-time meetings with Minnesota (L1). The Loons’ lone victory was a 3—2 win at Atlanta in October 2017.
However, Minnesota are off to the best start in club history with 17 points from their first nine matches of the season. The Loons have won three of their four road matches (L1) after winning only three of their final 14 regular-season away matches in 2023 (D2 L9).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Atlanta United – 47.7%
Minnesota United – 25.2%
Draw – 27.1%
D.C. United v Philadelphia Union: Gazdag eyes response after landmark goal overshadowed
Daniel Gazdag says the Philadelphia Union must "run through walls" against D.C. United on Saturday, after he saw a personal milestone overshadowed by back-to-back defeats for Jim Curtin's team.
Gazdag became Philadelphia's all-time leading scorer on Tuesday, netting his 57th goal for the club against the Seattle Sounders at Subaru Park.
However, that goal wasn't enough to prevent the Union from sliding to a 3-2 loss, just three days after they suffered their first MLS defeat of 2024 against Real Salt Lake.
While Gazdag was pleased to seal his place in franchise history, he was frustrated it didn't count for more and wants to make amends this weekend.
"It's obviously a nice number. I'm happy that I've become the all-time leading goalscorer for the club. That's amazing," Gazdag said.
"When I got here three years ago, I wouldn't have dreamed about it. I'm happy with that, I'll be happy in the future, for sure, but it's just annoying we played like that.
"After two games like this, we have to go out there and just run through walls to win the next game, it doesn't matter who we're up against."
Philadelphia sit seventh in the Eastern Conference with 13 points from nine games, an identical tally to that accumulated by D.C. through 10 matches.
Troy Lesesne's men beat Seattle 2-1 last Saturday to halt a three-match winless run, but he says they are yet to produce a complete performance since he took charge.
"With the ball, what we want to do is keep the tempo high," Lesesne said.
"We want to see out a complete performance, which is still something we're going after, and hopefully against Philadelphia we can have another go at that."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
D.C. United – Christian Benteke
Benteke scored both of D.C.'s goals against Seattle last week, moving to eight goals in MLS this season. Only Lionel Messi, with nine, has outscored the former Liverpool man.
The Belgian has also netted 12 of his team's last 21 MLS goals in a run dating back to late September (0.57 per cent).
Philadelphia Union – Julian Carranza
Carranza scored two hat-tricks against D.C. United in the 2022 season.
The Argentine, who has four goals in MLS this term, is looking to break new ground on Saturday – no player in MLS history has scored three hat-tricks against a single opponent before.
MATCH PREDICTION – PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN
The Union have won six of their last eight regular-season away matches against D.C. (one draw, one defeat), scoring 24 goals in those matches including nine in the last two.
They are favourites to preserve their strong record at Audi Field, having gone unbeaten through their first five road games of an MLS season (two wins, three draws) for the second time (also in 2021).
Since 2015, only the 2022 New York Red Bulls have opened a season with a six-game unbeaten run on the road. Philadelphia have what it takes to replicate that feat, with D.C. not winning consecutive matches within a single season since April 2023.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
D.C. United – 29.2%
Philadelphia Union – 42.4%
Draw – 28.4%
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
