Secret 2017 Restaurant Photograph Emerges as Manchester City Proof
Manchester City executives consider an October 2017 photograph of rival club officials dining together at the Locanda Verde restaurant in New York’s Tribeca district as Exhibit A of an alleged alliance working against them, according to ESPN reports cited by the Manchester Evening News. The picture features Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, Liverpool owner John W. Henry, and Manchester United owners Avram and Joel Glazer alongside executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward seated at the same table.
The meeting occurred seven days before a Premier League vote regarding the distribution of future global broadcast revenue. While Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were also absent from the dinner, sources indicate that Manchester City’s hierarchy has never accepted explanations that the missing clubs were simply those lacking American owners at the time. The club’s supporters have voiced mounting frustration over the alleged involvement of the three red-shirted clubs in efforts to curb Manchester City’s rise.
Financial Fair Play Arguments Trace Back Years
Tensions surrounding Manchester City’s financial practices date back well before the Tribeca meeting. In 2011, Liverpool owner John W. Henry and former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger publicly criticized the club’s financial operations. Wenger called on UEFA to examine Manchester City, alleging the club was manipulating regulations through inflated sponsorships that were doubled, tripled, or quadrupled above market price.
Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano has rejected explanations for the 2017 gathering and dismissed the independent commission’s findings as a Premier League conspiracy theory, football365.com reported. An independent commission recently found Manchester City guilty of breaching 114 Premier League rules between 2009 and 2018, ruling that the club used sham sponsorship deals to artificially boost earnings by roughly £900 million. Manchester City has appealed that verdict, insisting upon its innocence and pointing to documentation indicating that sponsorship funds originated from the Abu Dhabi government rather than club owners.
Rivals fear losing Premier League and transfer market dominance
Sources connected to Manchester City maintain that the club’s rise since Sheikh Mansour’s 2008 takeover fundamentally disrupted the established dominance of traditional powerhouses. A source with connections to the club stated that Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool have been terrified of losing their ability to dominate the Premier League and transfer market since day one. Chelsea's earlier transformation under Roman Abramovich created similar friction before Sheikh Mansour's arrival changed the competition again.
Beyond boardroom lobbying and the 2017 dinner, friction persists over other perceived slights. Manchester City stakeholders expressed displeasure when senior figures from Manchester United and Liverpool received special access to candidates vying to succeed Richard Scudamore as Premier League chief executive. Club insiders also point to a disproportionate number of former players from United, Liverpool, and Arsenal working as media pundits and regularly criticizing Manchester City.
Common Inquiries Regarding the Alleged Cartel
What photograph forms the basis of the Red Cartel claims?
The photograph shows Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, Liverpool owner John W. Henry, and Manchester United owners Avram and Joel Glazer alongside executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward seated together at the Locanda Verde restaurant in New York in October 2017.
How have the absent clubs accounted for the meeting?
The absence of Manchester City, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur has been explained by the fact that the clubs present all possessed American ownership at the time, though Manchester City’s hierarchy has rejected this justification.
What specific rule breaches were attributed to Manchester City?
An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of 114 Premier League rule breaches, determining that the club utilized sham sponsorship deals to inflate earnings by approximately £900 million between 2009 and 2018.
When did rival executives first publicly target Manchester City’s finances?
Public criticism began as early as 2011, when Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Liverpool owner John W. Henry questioned the credibility of financial fair play regulations in relation to Manchester City’s sponsorship values.
Related reading