Much like a tired gamer at the end of a long session looking to finally reach that last one achievement unlock before they save and return to real life, football fans up and down the country had been waiting patiently for the announcement on Manchester City’s 115 financial rule breach related charges – and on Friday afternoon it suddenly hit the headlines. Well, sort of.
News broke in the media that the serial winning Etihad Stadium outfit had been found guilty of a majority of the levied breaches – suggesting that the independent panel had finally decided that guilt had been proven in 114 of the 115 – but that sanctions had not yet been decided, despite the incredible length of time that it had taken to reach even this point. It felt like hours had to pass before there was an official comment, and whilst the Premier League themselves remained silent, City’s lawyers eventually offered a subtle barb about how the news had leaked, maintained their innocence whilst neither confirming or denying the news, whilst politely putting a potential appeal firmly on the table.
Gamers, particularly those who follow eSports standings, results and fixtures, may, or may not, be interested in the fuller details but they related to failing to provide accurate financial information, failure to provide accurate details for player and managerial contracts, failures to comply with UEFA’s rules including Financial Fair Play, breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules specifically and multiple failures to co-operate appropriately with the Premier League investigations into these matters.
On the face of it this seems irrelevant to avid gamers, however, there will be those out there who cannot stand professional football but still like EA Sports’ legendary FIFA series, or maybe Pro Evolution Soccer. For the strategy wonks there is always SI Games’ Football Manager offerings. This is where the City shenanigans take on relevance. EA’s next edition after the title pivot, FC 27, was officially released at the weekend, and people are only naturally asking ‘what happens to FC 28 now?’
For those who play with the varying editors, or move forward with their saves, it probably is not an issue – but for those who play fresh to stay up to date and attempt to repeat their prior successes, the potential ramifications of the sanctions could now be materially important. You do not have to favour just managing, or playing as, Manchester City to be unexpectedly effected moving forward.
What happens if the status quo is forcibly fractured and City are relegated, could that be League Two – if so which other sides change to balance the pyramid again? Would players potentially walk away from their contracts with such a club breach, or future in a division they would not have signed to play in? Could there be a mass, and speedy, further financial rule strengthening that changes how players of these games are used to operating as they build for future success with their chosen side?
How could this potentially effect new, or existing, online gaming with these titles and those league formats and set up?
Probably far less likely, but could any major and unexpected changes require some semi significant rewriting of hard coded and rarely touched game elements?
It is now something that fans of these franchises will have to consider, at least to one degree or another.
