The Biggest Scandal in Soccer, Explained

The article revisits Manchester City’s rapid rise after the Abu Dhabi United Group purchase linked to Sheikh Mansour on the same day Robinho left Real Madrid for City in 2008, framing it as the start of a dominant era. It then focuses on the “giant asterisk” now surrounding that success: the club faced 115 charges tied to financial rule breaches between the 2007-08 and 2017-18 seasons and alleged non-cooperation. The piece says City was found guilty on all but one charge. It describes “sham contracts” inflating sponsor income by £830 million (over $1 billion) and raises possible consequences including points deductions, fines, stripping trophies, or even expulsion, while City appeals.