A LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN | MANCHESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB

I have been part of this Club for 18 years. I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul. This Club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again - how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today.

Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.

There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies.

I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023 (also below). Every word matters and holds true.

While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our Club. We will not give them that opportunity.

We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break.  We travel to Anfield in a fortnight, and then host Paris St Germain in the Champions League back at Etihad Stadium - moments that give us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family.

Thank you, as always, for your constant support.

Khaldoon Al Mubarak

Chairman

Manchester City Football Club

MANCHESTER CITY 115-CHARGES VERDICT HAS FINALLY ARRIVED - NOW LAWMAKERS MUST DECIDE SANCTIONS THAT COULD CHANGE ENGLISH FOOTBALL FOREVER

 

The reliable reports that the dominant force in the Premier League over the past decade has been found guilty of financial breaches could have colossal repercussions

'The Damned United' is not a documentary. The accuracy of the story told by David Peace in his best-selling novel is disputed by a number of the real-life protagonists. But there's one thing that pretty much everyone agrees on: in July 1974, during one of his very first training sessions as Leeds United's new manager, Brian Clough really did get up in front of an undeniably gifted but notoriously aggressive group of players and tell them that they could throw all of their medals in the bin because they didn't win any of them fairly. "You've done it all by blooming cheating," Michael Sheehan's Clough so infamously declares in the film version of the best-selling book, alluding to Leeds' allegedly 'dirty' style of play rather than any level of corruption on their part.

You've probably already seen that clip doing the rounds again on social media - only now in relation to Manchester City, who, as first reported by the Athletic, have been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought against them in February 2023 for breaching the Premier League's financial rules. It may even have been sent to you in a WhatsApp group - because the 'fun' has well and truly begun. It's all aboard the 'banter' bus because the meme machine has already gone into overdrive and rival fans are mocking Man City mercilessly.

But this is no laughing matter. On the contrary, this is a serious business, which has the potential to completely alter the future of English football by rewriting its past. Because while the Premier League has reportedly recorded a resounding victory over Manchester City, this will hardly feel like a win worth celebrating, given the very competition it runs could be stripped of all credibility.

Relegation a real risk

A team containing Erling Haaland could be bound for The Championship. Getty Images 

We have, of course, yet to learn what sanctions the Premier League, headed up by chief executive Richard Masters, will impose on Manchester City, who still have the right to appeal. Indeed, some sceptical supporters of rival clubs suspect that the Etihad outfit will escape with a fine and an inconsequential points deduction. However, that's incredibly unlikely according to legal experts familiar with the case. The sport has never seen a financial scandal of this magnitude. The severity of the charges are unprecedented. In all probability, the punishment would be too.

Remember, Everton (six-point deduction) and Nottingham Forest (four) were only guilty of minor breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations. Chelsea, meanwhile, were only (controversially) fined for charges relating to illegal payments to agents and third parties but the Blues essentially reported themselves to the Premier League, as the breaches in question related not to the current owners but the Roman Abramovich administration. The Clearlake consortium, thus, co-operated fully with the investigation every step of the way. City did not. And they maintained their complete innocence throughout the entire process, meaning leniency is unlikely.

As a result, there is now a distinct possibility that City will be hit with such a heavy points deduction that it would make relegation probable rather than possible.

Trophies to be taken away?

Pep Guardiola always insisted that titles won on the pitch would always 'belong' to City. Action Plus

Whether titles would be revoked remains unclear at this stage. There's certainly a strong case to be made that all of City's results between 2009 and 2018 (the subject of the investigation) should be declared null and void.

However, it could also be argued that nothing that's happened in the last eight years would have been possible without the alleged financial fraud that laid the costly foundations for City's emergence as the dominant force in English football - and eventual 2023 treble triumph.

Former City manager Pep Guardiola previously railed against the idea that the club should be stripped of their trophies in the event of a guilty verdict.

"Come on! Those moments belong to [City], regardless of the sentence," the Catalan argued back in 2023. "Think about what we’ve done... that goal from Sergio Aguero [against QPR in 2012]; nobody can remove that. I don’t know, are we responsible for Steven Gerrard slipping at Anfield?"

They obviously weren't. But they were allegedly responsible for financial fraud that put Manuel Pellegrini’s City in a position to take advantage of that slip. Furthermore, the magical moments Guardiola referred to arguably only belonged to City because they were stolen from someone else.

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has already pointed out that the memories can't really be taken away. The medals and trophies can, though, and it's telling that Jurgen Klopp, whose Liverpool side were pipped to two titles by Guardiola's City, in 2018-19 and 2021-22, previously stated that if City were found guilty, he would get the beers in and host a parade in his own back garden for his former players.

Irreparable damage

Former cyclist Lance Armstrong still claims to be a seven-time winner of the Tour de France but nobody counts his titles. AFP

Of even greater concern to City, though, are the potential legal and financial ramifications.

Manchester United, who have thrice finished second to City during the past 18 years, are already reportedly assessing the economic impact of City's breaches on their own earnings, and it would be a surprise if Liverpool (also three-time runners-up) and Arsenal (two 'lost' titles) are not doing likewise.

It doesn't end there, though, as City also repeatedly denied other clubs top-four finishes that would have secured qualification for the Champions League - and the lucrative prize money that comes with it. The possible cost of compensation is impossible to calculate at this early stage - just like the potentially irreparable damage done to the Premier League's integrity, given, if the guilty verdict sticks, the biggest case of fraud in football history threatens to expose the past 18 years of the Premier League as a lie.

Here's what we do know for sure, though: City's reputation will be in ruins. Their memories and titles have not yet been erased, and maybe they never will be. At the very least, though, subject to what is likely to be a lengthy appeals process, every accolade could now have an asterisk beside it and, in the eyes of most neutral observers, every triumph would be rendered utterly meaningless. Like Florence Griffith Joyner's sprint records. Or Lance Armstrong's seven Tour de France wins.

And why? Because, unlike 'The Damned United', City, who, it should be pointed out, continue to deny all wrongdoing, might just have won all their medals against a backdrop of cheating.

- Mark Doyle

BENARDO SILVER: MAN CITY 'PLAYED LIKE UNDER-15S'

Bernardo Silva said Manchester City "played like under-15s" in the closing stages against Manchester United after the out-of-form Premier League champions slumped to a dismal 2-1 derby defeat on Sunday.

City appeared to be limping towards a much-needed victory at the Etihad Stadium before a calamity of errors late on, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a penalty in the 88th minute before a stoppage-time winner from Amad Diallo.

Both goals were a result of sloppy defending from City, particularly the opener after Matheus Nunes gave the ball away before chopping down Diallo in the box.

The defeat means City have won only one of their past 11 games in all competitions, continuing the club's worst run of form since 2006.

"We deserved what happened," Silva told Sky Sports. "At this level, a game or two is unlucky. We can't say this is lucky or unlucky -- 10 games, it's not about that.

"Minute 87 in a derby, winning 1-0 and our corner ends in a penalty for them, if we make these stupid decisions with three or four minutes to go, you deserve to pay for that. Looking at the game, I think there was only one team that could win the game, but at the end we lost.

Bernardo Silva and Manchester City slumped to a derby defeat to Manchester United on Sunday. PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

"It's not one game; it's a lot of games lately. We have to look at ourselves. You can't say oh it's a bit unlucky, no. It's the decisions you make. Today in the last minute, we played like under-15s."

Silva added: "It's quite normal that we're not very happy at the minute. Not just this game, but the last month. We have to do better individually and collectively because it's not the standards of Manchester City."

Fellow midfielder Phil Foden was similarly dismayed as City -- who have the lowest points-per-game in the entire league since the beginning of November -- fell to an "unacceptable" loss. The Englishman also suggested City's problem was a "mental thing."

"Massively [disappointed] -- the game was in our hands," he told the BBC. "We were 1-0 up and controlling the game. We had a lot of possession. Seems to be the story at the moment. I don't know what happens but we switch off and they score two goals.

"It keeps happening at the moment. We have to stick together now, rebuild and go again.

"You can concede at 1-1 but you can't concede straight after, that's unacceptable.

"At the start when you lose a couple of games [it's not a mentality problem] but when it happens a lot it feels like a mental thing. We need to get out of that and get back to winning ways and pick ourselves back up."

- ESPN 

MANCHESTER CITY IS IN FOR 'TOUGH' SEASON AFTER LATE STUMBLE ' - PEP

Pep Guardiola said Manchester City are in for a "tough" season after Feyenoord launched a stunning comeback to condemn his team to a sixth straight game without a win.

On the back of five straight defeats, City threw away a three-goal lead in the final 15 minutes to draw 3-3 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. At one stage, Guardiola's team were fifth in the Champions League table, but ended the night in 15th.

"It will be a tough season for us and we have to accept it for many circumstances," said Guardiola. "Today unfortunately the game was well done and we couldn't punish them in the right moment. The team was so committed in many, many things but unfortunately in the moment something happens and we are not strong enough. We have to try and avoid those mistakes."

City looked to be cruising to a comfortable win thanks to two goals from Erling Haaland and another from Ilkay Gündogan. What followed was an inexplicable collapse as Guardiola's team conceded three late goals to add to the four they let in against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

"It was not necessary to say anything to them, they know it perfectly," said the City boss. "It is what it is, difficult to swallow right now. The game was good, we played well, we scored three and could have scored more. It's not about no run or no commitment, but football you have to be [switched on] in certain moments to do it. Rest one or two days and prepare for Anfield."

Liverpool in the Premier League is next up for City on Sunday and Guardiola is faced with the task of trying to lift his players after a miserable run of results. Defeat would leave City 11 points adrift of the Reds.

"We have to, we have to," he said. "That is my job."

- Rob Dawson, Correspondent

 

MANCHESTER CITY THRASHED BY TOTTENHAM 0-4 AT THE ETIHAD | POST MATCH ANALYSIS

PEP GUARDIOLA SIGNS MANCHESTER CITY EXTENSION THROUGH 2027

https://players.fcbarcelona.com/en/player/372-guardiola-josep-pep-guardiola-sala

Pep Guardiola signed a new two-year contract to extend his stay as Manchester City boss, the club announced Thursday.

Guardiola, 53, agreed to a deal that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2027. His contract was due to expire at the end of the current campaign.

The extension means Guardiola will celebrate 10 years at City in the summer of 2026, having arrived from Bayern Munich in 2016.

"Since the beginning of the season, I've been thinking a lot," Guardiola said. "I want to be honest, I thought this [season] should be the last one. But the problems we had in the last month, I felt now was not the right time to leave. I didn't want to let the club down.

"Manchester City means so much to me," Guardiola said. "We have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club. That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons."

City, according to sources, were concerned Guardiola might step down at the end of the season. His decision to stay is a major boost, particularly with director of football Txiki Begiristain leaving the club in the summer.

Begiristain was instrumental in engineering an era of unprecedented success at the Etihad. He'll be replaced by Hugo Viana, who will make the move from Sporting Lisbon where he worked with new Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim.

Guardiola is the most successful manager in City's history, having won 15 major trophies including six Premier League titles and the Champions League. This season, he's aiming to become the first manager in English football history to win five consecutive top-flight titles.

"It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here," Guardiola added. "I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much. Hopefully now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus."

City, who are on a run of four straight defeats in all competitions for the first time since 2006, sit second in the table, five points behind leaders Liverpool.

"Like every City fan, I am delighted that Pep's journey with Manchester City will continue; allowing his dedication, passion and innovative thinking to continue to shape the landscape of the game," City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said in a statement.

"His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable and the direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our Club, and the English game at large."

A source told ESPN that Guardiola's new deal does not contain a break clause, despite the threat of relegation from the Premier League if City are found guilty of breaching the competition's financial rules. City are facing 115 charges -- which they deny -- at a hearing in London that began in September.

The hearing is set to conclude in the coming weeks before the independent commission delivers its verdict next year.

- Rob Dawson, Correspondent

MAN CITY FANS PARTY AS GUARDIOLA'S DORMIANANT TEAM WINS A RECORD FOURTH STRAIGH PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE

 

AP Photo

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City fans could hardly stand the wait for the final whistle.

Not because they feared a last-minute twist and the unlikeliest of comebacks from West Ham.

The tension during the dying moments of the Premier League season at Etihad Stadium was simply because fans couldn't wait to get the party started after a record fourth straight English top flight title for Pep Guardiola's dominant team.

A 3-1 win on the day made certain of that and soon a sea of light blue shirts flooded the field. Flares and the smell of sulphur filled the air and delirious fans danced, posed for selfies and simply savored the moment - ignoring the futile pleas from the stadium announcer and messaging on the big screens instructing them to return to their seats.

Winning has become a familiar feeling in these parts. And there is no sign of it getting old.

“It feels just as amazing as the first one. We worked so hard for it,” City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne said. “It has been a tough battle with Arsenal and Liverpool this year, and you know to be here again doing something historic is amazing.”

Four titles in a row is also six in seven seasons for Guardiola, who has won 17 trophies and counting since heading to the blue half of Manchester in 2016. That number could rise to 18 as soon as next week when City plays Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

In all, Guardiola has won 38 trophies as a coach at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City to strengthen the case for him to be considered the greatest manager of his era. By comparison, Carlo Ancelotti has won 28, including a record four Champions League titles — one more than Guardiola — and the chance to make that five when Real Madrid meets Borussia Dortmund in this year's final of European club soccer's most prestigious competition.

“Everyone in football is in awe of his (Guardiola's) coaching but there is more to it than that," outgoing West Ham manager David Moyes said. “Four in a row is incredible.”

Another question that will be debated long and hard is whether this City team should be considered English soccer's greatest of all time.

No other English team has won four titles in succession. Not during Liverpool's dominant era in the 1970s and 80s - and not during United's in the 90s and 2000s.

That alone sets City apart - and by winning the Champions League last season, it has also completed a full set of major trophies during an era of unprecedented success.

“In terms of numbers, nobody has been better than us - the records, the goals, the points and four in a row,” Guardiola said. “If I land here tomorrow and you say I will win six Premier Leagues in seven years, I would say ‘Are you crazy?’ It’s impossible. We have done something unbelievable.”

Guardiola took over a team that was already among the wealthiest in the world after being bought by the ruling family of Abu Dhabi in 2008 and had won two Premier League titles before his arrival. He has gone on to create a near-unstoppable force domestically and continues to hold off the challengers to City's throne.

Arsenal has taken up the fight, previously offered by United and then Liverpool - and pushed City to the wire this season, having fallen away during the run-in a year earlier.

Still, Mikel Arteta's team couldn't quite get over the line and finished two points behind the champion after a 2-1 win against Everton in its final game on Sunday.

Arsenal looks likeliest to push City closest in the coming years, especially now that Jurgen Klopp has stepped down at Liverpool, while Man United looks set for a period of more upheaval.

Whether Arsenal will be able to go one better in the future remains to be seen, given City's financial power to strengthen further and the age of key players like footballer of the year Phil Foden and back-to-back Premier League golden boot-winner Erling Haaland.

“We got the message from Mikel and his players. We have to make the right decisions in the next years because they are here to stay,” Guardiola said. “They are so young and have experience in the Champions League. For two years (they) were close.”

How long Guardiola stays on could have a big bearing on City's continued rule. His contract runs until the end of next season.

The outcome of the 115 charges made against City for alleged financial wrongdoing could also be significant. City denies wrongdoing.

That fight is off the field and still to come.

Right now, as far as City's fans are concerned, another party has only just begun.

SO CLOSE

Arsenal could do no more. A 2-1 win against Everton at Emirates Stadium meant City had to beat West Ham to retain its title. It also meant the Gunners lost just once from the turn of the year to the end of the season.

That 2-0 home defeat against Aston Villa proved to be decisive though, giving City an advantage it never relinquished.

“What can I say? I feel sorry for all the Arsenal fans. We gave our best but it wasn’t enough,” Arsenal forward Kai Havertz said. “Maybe in two or three months we can say it was a good fight. Right now I feel like we deserve more.”

Having spent $138 million on Declan Rice and also recruiting Havertz ahead of this season, Arteta will have to weigh up how to improve his team further.

A prolific striker may be his priority, but his team only scored five fewer goals than City and ended with the same goal difference.

“Now we have to be more determined, very courageous, very ambitious, and we need to go to a different level. We need to deliver,” Arteta said.

UNITED PAIN

Manchester United must beat City in Saturday’s FA Cup final to secure European soccer for next season.

Even a 2-0 win over Brighton couldn’t prevent Erik ten Hag’s team from finishing eighth in the standings — United’s lowest in the Premier League era.

“It is not good enough by far,” Ten Hag said. “Although we had less than 60 points two years ago, 58 points, eighth is the worst performance. It is the truth, but we should have done better.”

Newcastle finished seventh, above United on goal difference, after a 4-2 win at Brentford.

Chelsea beat Bournemouth 2-1 and finished sixth in the table, with Moises Caicedo scoring a goal from just past the halfway line.

Mauricio Pochettino has managed to salvage a troubled season by qualifying for Europe, yet his future has become a source of increased speculation.

“That is a question for the owners and the sporting director,” he said.

KLOPP’S FAREWELL

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign ended with a 2-0 win against Wolves.

While his farewell campaign ultimately ended in disappointment as Liverpool’s title bid fizzled out, Klopp’s status as an Anfield and Premier League icon is secure.

The German is standing down after winning a full set of major trophies in more than eight years at the club.

“When you are in it, you forget sometimes how great it is,” Klopp said. “You take it for granted. Now I stand here, I’m just so happy I’m a part of the club’s history. It’s wonderful.”

With Champions League qualification already secured, fourth-place Aston Villa was routed 5-0 at Crystal Palace.

Tottenham, in fifth, ended the season with a 3-0 win at last-place Sheffield United.

LUTON RELEGATED

Luton's relegation was confirmed after a 4-2 loss at home against Fulham.

Nottingham Forest, which was one place above Luton, beat second from bottom Burnley 2-1.

- JAMES ROBSON

REAL MADRID BEATS MANCHESTER CITY 4-3 ON PENALTIES TO ADVANCE TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMIFINALS

AP Photo 

 MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Real Madrid weathered the storm, silenced the crowd and ultimately ended Manchester City’s brief hold on the Champions League.

The all-time kings of Europe moved a step closer to a record-extending 15th title in the competition they have dominated after a 4-3 win Wednesday on penalties at Etihad Stadium.

But not before being pushed to the limit by defending champion City.

“I was pretty much dead on my feet at the end,” Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham said. “It’s so difficult. They are continuously probing with the ball and move you around. Most teams would fall apart when City get on top of you, but we stood up really well.”

The game had gone to the uncertainty of a shootout after ending 1-1 on the night and 4-4 on aggregate.

City dominated the chances after going behind to Rodrygo’s goal in the 12th minute, but only had Kevin de Bruyne’s leveler in the 76th to show for its superiority, which included 64% of possession and 18 corners to Madrid’s one through extra time.

That counted for little as Antonio Rudiger struck the decisive spot kick after Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic both saw their penalties saved.

“In this competition, that’s the way football happens,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “In other sports, for (these) statistics, we would have won.”

AP Photo 

Guardiola had few complaints. He accepted his team had failed to capitalize against a Madrid team that was forced to defend deep against wave after wave of attack.

Erling Haaland hit the bar with one header in the first half De Bruyne sent an effort sailing over from inside the box in the second.

Madrid dug deep, held on and now faces Bayern Munich in the semifinals after the Germans beat Arsenal 1-0 on Wednesday and 3-2 on aggregate.

“Today it came down to mentality," Bellingham said.

The defeat ended City’s bid to become the first English team to win back-to-back Champions League titles and its pursuit of successive trebles. It is still challenging for the Premier League title and FA Cup.

Victory for Madrid saw the Spanish giant advance to the semifinals for the fourth year in row — denying City the chance to emulate that feat.

“This was about survival,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "Madrid is a club based on always fighting to stay in situations where there seems to be no way out – but we always find a way. By the time the penalty shoot-out came, we were totally convinced we’d go through.”

AP Photo 

Ancelotti has already won the Champions League a record four times as a coach — one more than Guardiola — and could extend that record by lifting the trophy for a third time with Madrid.

For Guardiola it is back to the drawing board after watching his team to relinquish the trophy it won for the first time last year and ending his own 12-year wait to triumph again in European club soccer's most demanding competition.

“I have to say thank you to these players from deep in my heart because the way they played. But football is about winning and we didn’t do enough, yet we were exceptional," he said.

This was the third straight season Madrid and City have clashed in the Champions League in what is becoming a classic rivalry. The winner of their meetings going on to win the competition in each of the past two years.

Madrid avenged last year's loss when its defense of the trophy was ended by a 4-0 rout at the hands of City in the semifinals.

England midfielder Bellingham was pivotal to Madrid’s opener with a moment of brilliance to open City up. Collecting a high ball just past the halfway line, he shook off the attention of Rodri with a deft touch to wrong-foot his opponent.

AP Photo 

The ball was worked to Vinícius Junior on the right who crossed to Rodrygo, who beat Ederson at the second attempt after his first shot was saved.

That pressure eventually paid off when De Bruyne leveled the game, lifting the ball high into the net after Rudiger could only partially clear a cross from substitute Jeremy Doku.

With no further goals in extra time, the game went to a shootout and City immediately seized the advantage after Julian Alvarez converted his opening penalty and Luka Modric’s effort was saved.

But Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin then saved successive spot kicks from Silva and Kovacic to swing the balance in the visitors’ favor. Silva’s attempt was right down the middle and easily caught chest-high by Lunin.

It came down to Rudiger to take the winning kick that sent Madrid fans wild and City supporters home.

“We suffered a lot tonight because City really put you under the cosh (pressure)," Madrid captain Nacho said. “But we are Real Madrid. We always, always fight until the very end.”

- Job Robson 

SOCCER'S MOST LAVISH VIP TICKETS, FROM HELICOPTERS TO HOT TUBS

 Premier League club Fulham made a real splash last week when they revealed spectacular plans for the new Riverside Stand at their Craven Cottage ground that is due to open from the start of the 2024-25 season.

Work has been ongoing to renovate the stand for several years but the Cottagers have now revealed the finer details of the new-look Riverside. It includes all the usual modern flourishes such as top-quality restaurants, brasseries and even a bar situated right behind the dugouts.

However, the inclusion that really caught the eye was that of a lavish new three-tier "Sky Deck" built atop the stand that will offer those with access various premium food and drink pop-ups as well as a rooftop swimming pool.

The Sky Deck will offer views out over the pitch and the River Thames that flows directly behind Craven Cottage. Fulham will therefore become the first club in the Premier League (and quite possibly the world) to offer their supporters access to a private pool atop the terraces.

However, the Cottagers aren't the only club to offer unique, luxurious and -- in some instances -- downright ludicrous matchday amenities to people who are willing to pay a little extra.

Man City"s tunnel club

As part of the matchday experience at the Etihad Stadium, fans can purchase access to the Manchester City "Tunnel Club" which allows them to take a seat in a restaurant space that has a long glass wall, the other side of which is the actual players' tunnel.

Therefore, City fans can sit and eat their prematch haute cuisine while watching players and officials arrive at the stadium and then chow down as they all mill about directly next door.

The experience then moves outside as punters and players alike leave the tunnel just before kick-off; the latter taking their places in the plush, heated seats behind the dugouts outside as the match gets underway.

After the final whistle, Tunnel Club members can then return to the dining suite to listen in to all the media interviews and even enjoy a postmatch performance analysis from City's tactical staff.

Real Madrid's nightclub

As part of the huge ongoing modernisation project of their Bernabeu stadium, Real Madrid are reportedly planning to include an exclusive nightclub on site.

While nothing is official as yet, El Mundo reported in December that the club will form part of a "skywalk" walkway around the very top of the stadium where a variety of VIP bars and restaurants will be located.

It's also been reported that the so-called "Skybar" will be able to host hundreds of fans with views over the pitch during games and will then convert into a private club at night with DJ sets, dance floors, cocktails and even a private elevator.

West Ham's helicopter ride

Like many clubs, West Ham United offer fans a variety of stadium tour packages. However, the more intrepid Hammers supporter is able to take to the sky and view the London Stadium via their own private helicopter ride.

According to the Daily Mail, the day starts with a chopper ride to the club's Rush Green training ground for a behind-the-scenes tour before fans are whisked via a chauffeur-driven car to the stadium for a three-course meal and complimentary drinks, a Q&A session with a Hammers ambassador and then last and perhaps least, the opportunity to take in an actual match from seats behind the players' tunnel.

As you might expect, this doesn't come cheap, with a package for two people costing £4,000.

Mallorca's pitchside bar

LaLiga club Mallorca have made waves in recent years by adopting a number of fan-experience packages that are becoming increasingly popular in other leagues around Europe.

Perhaps the most unusual is their "Corner VIP" acces, which they began offering in 2019. Similar to courtside seats at an NBA game, fans could purchase drinks and snacks and then consume them at a long bar situated -- you guessed it -- in the corner of the Estadi Son Moix, mere metres from the edge of the pitch.

Troyes' hot tub

Ligue 1 club Troyes caught the attention of social media a couple of years ago when they offered a handful of fans who were members of their club loyalty program an interesting alternative to the standard folding stadium seat.

Instead, they installed a hot tub at pitchside for their home match against Rennes in 2022 and allowed two pairs of lucky supporters to enjoy the action while bathing in the comfort of their communal jacuzzi.

St. Pauli's sausage train

It may sound like something out of a dream that Homer Simpson might have, but unorthodox German club St. Pauli maintained their reputation for looking after their supporters with this ingenious method of delivering mid-game refreshment to their VIP fans.

Indeed, Die Kiezkicker conjured up an brilliantly unique system that saw currywurst delivered directly from the stadium kitchens to the premium seats in a temporary stand via a miniature railway.

The sausage express service ran every five minutes before returning to the catering section to be refilled.

ESPN's Alex Kirkland, Matt Foster and Sam Marsden contributed to this report

MAN CITY INJURY BLOW AS STONES, WALKER OUT FOR ARSENAL CLASH

John Stones went off injured in England's game against Belgium on Tuesday. Getty

 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been dealt a double injury blow ahead of the crucial Premier League clash with Arsenal after confirming on Friday both John Stones and Kyle Walker will miss out.

Stones and Walker picked up injuries playing for England during the international break and will not be available for Arsenal's visit to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Kevin De Bruyne, Éderson, Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji are all expected to be fit to face Mikel Arteta's side, who are top of the table level on points with Liverpool and one point ahead of City.

"Kyle and John are out, it is what it is," Guardiola told a news conference on Friday.

"Kevin is such an important player. It has been a tough season for him with injuries, being out for a long time. He trained really well yesterday [on Thursday] so we will see what we're going to do in the next days."

Stones has suffered injury problems this season and has been limited to just 22 games in all competitions. He played 90 minutes for England against Brazil last Saturday and was picked to start again against Belgium three days later.

Gareth Southgate has come in for criticism for picking Stones twice in such a short space a time but asked whether he was disappointed, Guardiola refused to get involved in the row. "I don't have any comments on that," he said.

On Sunday, Guardiola will come up against Declan Rice, a player he tried to sign in the summer. City lodged a bid for the England midfielder before he swapped West Ham for Arsenal in a club record deal worth £105 million ($132.6m)

"He's not the first one who we wanted who didn't join us," Guardiola said. "Either they don't want to come or whatever, he took his decision and good luck.

"All the teams in the Premier League would have signed Declan Rice, an international captain and a young player playing a lot of games regularly. That's why Arsenal pushed."

- Rob Dawson, Correspondent

EVERTON FAN FLY BANNER OVER ETIHAD PROTESTING POINTS SANCTION

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An Everton fan group flew a banner over the Etihad Stadium protesting the 10-point deduction the club have been handed for breaching financial rules during Manchester City's Premier League game against Liverpool on Saturday.

The banner, which was organised by The 1878s fan group, read "Premier League = corrupt" and was flown over the stadium in the second half of the game that ended in a 1-1 draw.

On Nov. 17, Everton were docked 10 points by the Premier League for a breach of the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) for the season ending 2021-22.

It is the biggest sanction in the history of the Premier League and saw the Merseyside club drop from 14th to 19th on the table.

EPL: MANCHESTER CITY CONTINUE THEIR UNBEATEN RUN BY PUTTING 4 PAST BOURNEMOUTH

Manchester City easily beat AFC Bournemouth 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium today...Manchester City are 8 wins of 8 matches in all competitions...Kevin de Bruyne opened with a low shot after a foul by Jack Wilshire...Swift counter attacks produced two goals, one from Kelechi Iheanacho and the other from Raheem Sterling...Ilkay Gungdogan finished with the 4th goal and Nolito was sent off for an attemped head-butt.