Concern is growing in business and political consequences of the scandal at Manchester City. The Financial Times devotes a whole page it today under the headline 'Man City cheating scandal risks growing geopolitical quagmire.' It is important to keep a sense of proportion as the FT does. The leading sports business paper is not presenting a worst case scenario, simply pointing out some of the risks. Relations between the UK and the UAE are important both economically and politically, but have been subject to recurrent tensions. They are best described as 'volatile'. The row over the acquisition of the Telegraph caused particular turbulence with some in the UAE taking the view that opposition to the deal (which eventually failed) was driven by racism. As the FT notes, 'Abu Dhabi has a history of using commercial contracts to exert pressure on the UK.' Britain has often needed UAE funds. In the global financial crisis the UAE provided a £3.5 billion emergency...
'We know no spectacle so ridiculous as the British public in one of its periodical fits of morality.' So said Thomas Macaulay many years ago. There is certainly an outbreak of sporting morality over Manchester City with fans of other clubs salivating at the prospect of their destruction. However, it is important to weigh up the consequences both inside and outside football. I am not a City supporter and clearly they have to be sanctioned for their conduct (what that sanction should be is above my pay grade). However, it is also important not to bring the whole horse of cards down. I deal with the geopolitical concerns in another post, but it is worth quoting at length from what Martin Samuel had to say in the Sunday Times. 'What if the unforeseen consequence of any punishment finishes not just a corrupt regime, but an entire football club? Manchester City’s executives did wrong. That does not mean Manchester City should cease to exist. It does n...