The announcement of City's stadium ownership deal last week still has an air of disbelief about it. Michel Platini's Financial Fair Play Policy has been punched square between the eyes by the move, and it is hard to take the idea seriously if such blatant bending of the rules is going to take place. City have made a mockery of UEFA through their action.
But the more worrying question is, who is going to stop them? If the organisation set up to regulate the clubs can't do its job properly, then who will?
Perhaps this move to override UEFA signals the breaking point in the relationship between Europe's biggest clubs and their governing body. The top clubs have enough financial clout to be able to do as they please, and one of the ideas that could be reinvigorated by this fact is the Super League that was suggested a few years ago.
According to a report in the Guardian back in 2007, it was widely believed that talks were held between Europe's top clubs during a Champions League match between Arsenal and PSV in Eindhoven where it was agreed that a breakaway would be the ultimate threat that could be carried out if UEFA and FIFA, “run wild,” with the way they run the game. It is almost akin to a nuclear deterrent; if you blow us up, we'll blow you up.
Since then UEFA have introduced policy after intrusive policy, through the home grown player regulations, introducing extra goal-side referees instead of pushing on with the real answer of goal-line technology, and now the Financial Fair Play ruling. It is unlikely that the clubs will stand for this continuing presence in their business.
The Super League would most likely be comprised of the clubs that could afford to be a part of it rather than those that have qualified for it, the former members of the now disbanded G14, for example. The business line of football holds more power than the sentiment in the modern game, and as a result it is likely to be comprised of the richest clubs who could command the highest revenue from television and advertising rights. It would invariably lead to the rich clubs getting even richer, while the national-level clubs would be forced to tighten their belts in order to survive in a much less commercially-viable league.
The idea was extinguished back in 2008 when the G14 dissolved itself after reaching agreement with FIFA and UEFA over compensation for players when on international duty, but you only have to look at Forbes' list of the 20 richest clubs in the world to see a ready-made league just sitting there, waiting to be unleashed.
While it may seem a prospect worth salivating over on paper, the downsides are numerous, the most worrying being the ease with which the league could hold broadcasters and fans to ransom. The power would well and truly be in the hands of the rich few.
This should act as a warning to the various governing bodies that reside over the game. Mend your ways, or face a breakaway that could tear football in two.
Worried that UEFA's meddling could cause a footballing apocalypse? Or should clubs try to get on with their governing bodies? Let me know your thoughts on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/_tomclose