Week 13. United
A Lifetime with United
This week, I took some time out from looming end-of-year assessments to enjoy some Champions League football, and I was not disappointed. Arsenal v Real Madrid was the kind of match that reminds you why we all fell in love with the game in the first place. Declan Rice’s two free kicks, Incredible! The precision, the power, and the belief. Wow. It was one of those performances where even as a rival fan, you have to sit back and applaud.
For as long as I can remember, United meant only one thing, Manchester United. My father was a very passionate and devoted fan, the kind who never missed a match, and growing up, weekend games were a family event: the anticipation, the shouting at the TV, the shared highs and lows, those moments formed some of my fondest childhood memories. Whether it was celebrating last-minute goals or sulking for hours after a defeat, it was always about more than just football.
Watching United brought us together.
Every generation has their team, their legends, their heartbreaks, and for us, it was Back in the 90s, when football felt different. Stadiums were smaller, the players a little more accessible, and the game, though competitive, seemed rooted in community. It wasn’t just about winning; it was about pride, passion, and the bond you had with your club, your neighbours, and your city. Football felt like it belonged to the people. Fast forward to today, and the footballing world looks vastly different. The sport has become a global commercial empire, with clubs operating more like corporations than community institutions. Multi-billion-pound TV rights deals, sponsorships, international branding, and commercialisation have transformed the game into a high-stakes business. While financial growth has brought undeniable positives, better infrastructure, international fanbases, and elite-level competition, it has also raised serious concerns around integrity, transparency, and fairness.
The Manchester City Allegations and the Integrity of Financial Fair Play
As a lifelong Manchester United fan, it's challenging to overlook the extensive allegations brought against Manchester City. In February 2023, the Premier League charged Manchester City with over 100 breaches of its financial rules, covering a period from 2009 to 2018. These charges include failing to provide accurate financial information, not disclosing full details of player and manager remuneration, and non-compliance with UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. The case represents a significant test of the Premier League's regulatory framework and its commitment to financial integrity (BBC, 2023)
From a legal researcher's perspective, it's essential to maintain impartiality, even when personal allegiances are involved. The principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' must guide our analysis. However, the volume and seriousness of the charges naturally raise concerns about the effectiveness of existing financial regulations in football.
UEFA's FFP regulations were introduced to prevent clubs from spending beyond their means and to promote financial stability within European football. Sanctions for breaches can range from fines and transfer restrictions to exclusion from European competitions. Notably, in 2020, Manchester City faced a two-year ban from UEFA competitions for alleged FFP breaches, which was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) due to insufficient evidence and some charges being time-barred (BBC, 2020)
The current case against Manchester City is unprecedented in scale and complexity. An independent commission has been appointed to review the charges, and the proceedings are ongoing. As of April 2025, the verdict has been delayed multiple times, with expectations that a decision may not be reached before the summer of 2025 . The outcome could have far-reaching implications for the enforcement of financial regulations in football and the credibility of governing bodies. (The Sun, 2025)
If found guilty, potential sanctions could include substantial fines, points deductions, or even expulsion from the Premier League. Such outcomes would not only impact Manchester City but could also set a precedent for how financial misconduct is addressed in football .
There’s also a deeper systemic concern: will a long, drawn-out legal battle erode public trust in the Premier League itself? With referee controversies, VAR inconsistencies, and questions of governance already dominating the headlines, it’s not hard to imagine a scenario where public faith begins to crack
If the “best league in the world” can no longer assure competitive integrity, what happens next?
The European Super League perhaps?
In April 2021, football fans across the globe woke up to the shocking announcement of the European Super League (ESL). It was not just a restructuring of competition, it was an attempted coup of the footballing order, prioritising commercial returns for a few elite clubs over sporting merit. Six English clubs, including Manchester United, initially signed up, only to withdraw under intense fan and political pressure (BBC News, 2021).
But while the project was shelved, was it ever truly buried? And in the context of current events, one must ask, was this merely a warning shot? When fans marched in the streets, government ministers made statements, and club owners issued carefully worded apologies, it felt like football had won. But from a legal researcher’s perspective, I wonder, was the long game always likely in motion?
Should Manchester City, hypothetically, be severely punished, or should the Premier League be seen as unstable or politically compromised, could the Super League return under a different name or format? Possibly. With clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona still championing the concept (Daily Mail, 2024) and legal challenges ongoing in the EU, such as the case brought to the European Court of Justice concerning UEFA’s monopoly, the idea is far from dead (Court of Justice of the European Union, 2023). (White&Case, 2024)
Furthermore, there appears to be a telling trend: clubs investing heavily in new stadiums and infrastructure. Tottenham Hotspur’s new ground, Chelsea’s and Manchester United’s redevelopment plans, and similar upgrades to many clubs across the European top leagues, could suggest a level of preparation consistent with building a product for global television audiences, not just local communities. These investments, perhaps, are not just about better fan experiences; they’re about positioning clubs for future inclusion in a transnational league.
The legal ramifications of a new Super League would be vast: competition law, governance disputes, cross-border regulatory conflicts, and questions of jurisdiction would come into play. But if faith in the Premier League falters, due to inconsistent regulation, drawn-out legal disputes, or perceived favouritism, then its decline may not only be possible, but inevitable.
In such a scenario, will fans resist again with the same unity? Or will they have already been softened by years of disillusionment? That’s a societal, not just a legal, question. But it reminds us why strong, transparent, and timely governance is essential now more than ever (Football Governance Bill [HL], 2025).
The Football Governance Bill: A Step Toward Reform
In response to growing concerns, the UK Government has introduced the Football Governance Bill [HL] (2024–25), which marks a significant shift in how the sport will be regulated.
The Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, seeks to establish an Independent Football Regulator. This body would be tasked with:
Licensing football clubs to ensure compliance with financial and operational standards.
Overseeing the distribution of revenue from competitions to promote sustainability across the football pyramid.
Providing a mechanism to intervene where governance fails to protect the interests of fans or the long-term integrity of the game.
Spearheaded by Baroness Twycross and Lisa Nandy MP, the Bill represents a rare cross-party consensus that reform is overdue.
Why It Matters to Everyday Fans
For the average supporter, football is more than just entertainment, it’s a source of identity, tradition, and belonging. But when financial mismanagement or unchecked greed threatens clubs, it’s the fans who suffer. We’ve seen communities devastated when beloved clubs collapse under poor ownership or financial instability.
This new regulatory framework is about preserving the social fabric of football, ensuring that clubs are run responsibly and that fans’ voices are no longer side-lined. It’s about protecting the very thing that makes football special: the people who love it.
So, what does UNITED mean today?
To me, it’s about more than just a football team. It’s about solidarity. It’s about standing together, fans, clubs, communities, and lawmakers, to protect the game we love. Whether it’s cheering from the terraces or drafting legislation, we all have a part to play.
As someone passionate about Football, law and social justice, I believe this moment presents an opportunity to rebalance the scales, ensuring football remains a public good, not just a private business.
If we get this right, maybe the next generation of kids watching matches with their families will still feel that same magic I felt growing up. Not just because of the trophies, but because the game still feels like it belongs to them.
Let’s stay United, in spirit, in action, and in purpose!
References
BBC Sport.(2023). Manchester City charged with breaking financial rules by Premier League. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64536785
BBC Sport.(2020). Manchester City overturn two-year ban from European competition on appeal to Cas. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53387306
The Sun.(2025). Verdict on Man City's 115 charges DELAYED again after Pep Guardiola hinted they'd learn fate this month. [online] Available at: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/34404486/verdict-man-city-charges-summer/
BBC Sport.(2021). European Super League: Premier League's 'big six' agree to join new league
Online, available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56795811
DailyMail. (2024). European-Super-League-Real-Madrid-Barcelona. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14201481/European-Super-League-Real-Madrid-Barcelona.html
Court of Justice of the European Union (2023) Case C‑333/21 – European Super League Company v. UEFA & FIFA. [online] Available at: https://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?num=C-333/21
UEFA’s new Authorization Rules for International Club Competitions – a response to the CJEU’s ruling in the Super League case (2024)
Football Governance Bill [HL] (2025) A Bill to establish the Independent Football Regulator. [online] Parliament.uk. Available at: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3443
