31 Jul 2026 15:44:58
10 million fine.
2-window suspended transfer ban.
Outcome of FA charges.
All matters which were self-reported cleared.
Roman and Bruce and Marina were rather dodgy but always get applauded.
Blue.co very honest in all dealings and get slagged off on here.
In the meantime, what about Manchester City?
31 Jul 2026 18:25:32
Roman or Blue.co
Welcome to the site.
I think we are all agreed that we are thankful for the success the Roman era brought, but equally the new owners were left with a mess to resolve.
Also, I'm pretty sure every poster on here is glad that the new owners at the time self-reported, and I believe that's why our punishment was reduced.
You mention Man City. My response is: who knows, I certainly don't.
31 Jul 2026 21:49:50
My guess is, if we hadn't self-reported and cooperated fully with all the governing bodies, we may well have received a points deduction as a punishment. Any points deduction may well have meant us being relegated last season.
I'm also not sure that just having a new owner is a defence in itself.
01 Aug 2026 07:43:58
Agreed, Tom. And I thought that apart from suspended transfer ban, acsux points deduction was also suspended.
01 Aug 2026 07:48:14
Incredibly detailed and complex case.
RA sadly allowed and funded significant payments that weren't in accord with the regulations. Others were complicit, and you get a flavour of who was involved, and whilst not proof positive, look at those in a variety of senior positions under RA who have left (and I don't just mean the directors).
It's a staggering web, and even after Blue Co took over, two payments were made, but they had no knowledge of these payments.
The level of cooperation was extraordinary, it had to be. We are very lucky to get away so lightly because we have. One interesting fact in the written reasons is that we were the subject of an HMRC investigation at the time of takeover, and have now settled, but it seems that 20 clubs have/are being investigated by HMRC and some £380+ m has been paid, but to date only us and Brighton have self-reported.
01 Aug 2026 08:56:00
Terras, thanks for adding some extra colour in your post. Much appreciated.
01 Aug 2026 08:59:50
I think the bigger issue here is that if we had not self reported, the whole thing would probably not have come to light in the first place.
You have to ask what else is going on with other clubs in the Prem League that nobody knows about espically the authorities.
On other sites it's "they have hot caught outvagain" or "the cheats have been caught out", nothing about the new owners self reporting.
This is where we really miss our beloved ED002.
02 Aug 2026 17:50:22
Bill,
It would have come out.
The Cyprus Leaks and the fact that HMRC were already investigating both are mentioned in the written reasons, and the reality is that Americans are far more fearful of regulation than some other owners.
We got off very lightly. The offences were far ranging and involved vast sums.
03 Aug 2026 22:17:24
Very generic comment about American owners, Tom - seen plenty of dodgy ones about.
05 Aug 2026 07:44:04
It's just a fact we have American owners!!
I have seen plenty of dodgy owners at many clubs over the years. They seem to come in all different shapes, sizes, and nationalities. I guess, the comment Terras made about American businessmen being fearful of regulators is very accurate, given how heavily regulated the financial sector is in America.