“Van Gaal invited to sue Manchester City after FFP verdict.”

Louis van Gaal, former manager of Manchester United, has been advised to sue Manchester City “to the ground” after the club was found guilty of violating Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. Manchester City faces severe sanctions after the Premier League confirmed that the club committed infractions between 2009 and 2018, with most of the allegations directed at Enzo Maresca's team. Despite the convictions, City maintains its innocence and will appeal the initial decision, but potential sanctions range from a fine to the loss of Premier League titles if the appeal is unsuccessful.

The conviction of Manchester City raises questions about the possibility of other clubs and individuals suing the Manchester outfit. Journalist Sjoerd Mossou argued that Van Gaal should consider legal action against City, as his departure from United in 2016 may have been influenced by these irregularities. “I wonder if Louis van Gaal has already called his lawyer?” Mossou questioned in Algemeen Dagblad. He recalled that, ten years ago, Van Gaal was sacked after United finished fifth, missing out on Champions League qualification on goal difference. “Louis won the FA Cup that year, but was on the verge of staying. The team that finished fourth was, you guessed it, Manchester City,” Mossou highlighted.

The current context of Manchester City, now exposed as the biggest cheat in football history, has generated a wave of support for Van Gaal's quest for justice. “The entire English football community has turned against the club. But we must not forget the unforeseen individual victims: Van Gaal also deserves vindication. Sue them to the ground, Louis,” Mossou added.

On the other hand, football finance expert Kieran Maguire stated that the financial consequences for Manchester City could be devastating. “The total bill could reach hundreds of millions, considering the number of clubs involved,” Maguire told The i Paper. He explained that the amount to be claimed can be calculated based on the rewards for qualifying for the Champions League and the potential prize money. “To win the Champions League, it is €150 million. For the Europa League, it is €40 million, so we should look at the amount lost by participating in one competition instead of another,” he said.

Clubs that finished in fifth place may be considering claims of at least €50 million for lost prize money. Maguire also mentioned that the decrease in ticket revenue and sponsorship bonuses should be factored into the complaints. “I believe that the claims from individual clubs could exceed the amount that Burnley accepted,” he concluded. The financial and legal implications arising from this situation promise to further shake up the landscape of English football.