Man City reject 2017 dinner explanation as 'Red Cartel' suspicions deepen ahead of appeal

Manchester City’s top brass have reportedly rejected the explanation offered for a 2017 dinner meeting between executives from Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal, deepening the club’s suspicions that rival clubs have colluded to engineer their downfall. The development comes as City prepare their appeal against an independent commission’s verdict that found them guilty of 114 financial rule breaches.

A photograph taken at a New York restaurant co-owned by actor Robert De Niro in October 2017 has become central to what some City supporters call the ‘Red Cartel’ theory. Liverpool owner John W. Henry, Manchester United figures Ed Woodward, Joel and Avram Glazer, and then-Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis were pictured together just seven days before a Premier League vote on future broadcast revenue. Tottenham Hotspur, City and Chelsea were absent from the gathering.

One widely cited explanation for the meeting is that it was simply a gathering of the three American-owned clubs — Liverpool, United and Arsenal — while City (Abu Dhabi-owned), Chelsea (then Russian-owned) and Spurs (British-owned) had no equivalent connection. According to ESPN, that explanation has never been accepted by City’s hierarchy.

CEO Ferran Soriano has already referenced a ‘conspiracy theory’ at the top of English football in rejecting the commission’s verdict, with his comments reportedly aimed as much at the Liverpool, United and Arsenal hierarchies as at the Premier League itself. ESPN also reported that while the club have declined to comment publicly on the ‘cartel’ allegation, sources close to City say those at the highest level harbour no doubts about their rivals’ intent.

“From day one, United, Arsenal and Liverpool have been terrified of losing their ability to dominate everything from the Premier League to the transfer market,” a source with links to the club was quoted as saying. “Chelsea was already a problem for them under Roman Abramovich, but Sheikh Mansour came along in 2008 and changed everything again.”

The anger among City’s fanbase has been further stoked by the fact that United, Arsenal and Liverpool were three of only four clubs that instructed lawyers to notify City in 2024 that they had reserved the right to seek compensation if the club were found guilty. The trio are also said to be among the Premier League clubs pushing for severe sanctions should City’s appeal ultimately fail.

The dinner took place within the 2009–18 timeframe covered by the investigation that led to last month’s guilty verdict on 114 counts, though it predates the Premier League formally bringing charges against City in February 2023. City’s appeal hearing is yet to be scheduled.