The Telegraph apparently has a much stronger piece from Percy that suggests we have breached the rules but are trying to argue that we could have Johnson earlier to fit in with the rules but we would have got a much lower fee, so they want to use the Johnson sale as mitigation for the breach. They have appointed Nick De Marco KC to fight the case, which is fancy lawyering and would support us thinking we are in trouble. A 10 point deduction would have us 6 points adrift of safety. Complete fuck up if we have breached.
This Di Marco chap gets around a bit. He represented Harry Toffolo on the betting charges, and interestingly he is representing multiple clubs in their actions against Everton for damages resulting from their FFP breaches. He also represented Derby in their successful appeal against a deduction in 2021.
Apropos nothing in particular, I don't see why international drug dealer owners should be disadvantaged against human rights abusing states, but I don't particularly want either of them in charge of my community assets, and I'm not minded to invest in whatever shit sort of world where it is that they do.
Counterpoint: if we didn't have international drug dealers, how would we get drugs? I think international drug smugglers are on a much more forgiveable plane than human rights abusing states.