Manchester City Fans And The Red Cartel Conspiracy

The Origin of the Red Cartel

Manchester City supporters have spent years convinced that Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are part of a group working to undermine them. This alleged alliance, often called the Red Cartel, brings together three of the most successful teams in English football history. Between them, these three clubs have won 54 league titles and finished as runners-up 44 times. Yet their recent dominance was interrupted by the success of Manchester City.

Anger has grown among City fans following a recent verdict from an independent panel that found the club guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules over a nine-season period. City were found guilty of producing sham contracts and artificially inflating commercial revenue by over £830 million. Premier League CEO Richard Masters stated that the club systematically broke rules for nearly a decade.

The New York Dinner and Past Friction

Fans who believe in the Red Cartel point to a photograph taken in October 2017 at a New York restaurant co-owned by Robert de Niro. At the same table, Manchester United owners Joel and Avram Glazer sat alongside executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, Liverpool owner John W. Henry, and Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis. The meeting happened just days before a vote on the distribution of global broadcast revenue.

Sources indicated that City hierarchy never accepted explanations about why they were not at the table. When CEO Ferran Soriano rejected the independent commission verdict and spoke of a Premier League conspiracy theory, his comments targeted the boardrooms at Anfield, Old Trafford and the Emirates as much as league headquarters. Critics from the red corner have long voiced opposition to City finances. In January 2009, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger called City competition unfair. In 2011, Liverpool owner John W. Henry questioned a major sponsorship deal. In October 2012, United CEO David Gill stated support would be found to lobby against City for Financial Fair Play regulations.

Media Influence and Rivalry

City figures also believe that rival clubs hold an advantage through former players working in television and media. Pundits associated with United, Liverpool and Arsenal vastly outnumber former City players across several platforms, keeping constant scrutiny on the club. Despite the ongoing tension, both clubs and fans continue to focus on upcoming fixtures and league matches.