Throughout history, it has been common for one single power to dominate whole areas. Rome held the whole of Europe. More than 90% of all search engine enquiries are made through Google.¹ And today Manchester City straddles the whole of English football.

The general reaction, as the all-conquering team claimed a record fourth successive Premier LeagueEngland's highest level of men's football. title, seemed to be almost one of boredom.

Previously, English football fans prided themselves on their competitive, exciting leagues. In Italy, France and Germany, there was little drama.

In England, it was always all to play for. Four different teams won the Premier League between 2013 and 2017.² In 2016 Leicester City came from nowhere to take the title.

The Game was exciting and unpredictable. Now, thanks to Man City, fans say, this is no longer true.

City's play is technically superb. But that makes it difficult to summon up much emotion watching them. There is no tension or excitement.

However, dominance by a single team is not uncommon in other sports. Since 2022, no other Formula One team has been able to touch Red Bull. The Big Three in tennis - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic - won 66 out of 81 Grand Slams.³ None of them inspires the same hatred as City does. 

And the reason for that, many fans say, is money. Nobody doubts Pep GuardiolaThe manager of Premier League football club Manchester City. 's extraordinary abilities. Nobody questions the talent of his players.

The Abu DhabiThe capital city of the United Arab Emirates - it is also the name of one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE. monarchy has poured money into the club. Some critics say it has turned City into a propagandaInformation, which may be biased or misleading, used to promote a certain viewpoint. machine.

Moreover, for the whole period of City's dominance, it has been under investigation for 115 alleged breaches of Financial Fair PlayA set of rules to make sure that football clubs do not spend more money than they make. rules.⁴ Many fans think it is not fair that City is allowed to carry on winning when they might have broken the rules.

And that gets to the heart of the problem. We like to think of sport as a completely level competition. Two equal competitors go toe to toe and may the best win.

And however technically brilliant City may be, they cannot escape the impression of being a plastic club with support and talent both purchased using dirty money.

Is money ruining sport? 

Yes: Clubs like Manchester City can use their unlimited funding to buy the perfect manager and the perfect team, then dominate the game so thoroughly that no-one else can attract any talent.

No: Money has always been a factor in sport. The same charges now levelled against City were once the bane of Man United and Chelsea. There is no sign it puts people off watching.

Or... Players do not mind some clubs being richer than others. It makes it more exciting when a scrappy underdog with little funding pulls off a win. The problem is when money strangles the competition.

Premier league - England's highest level of men's football.

Pep Guardiola - The manager of Premier League football club Manchester City.

Abu Dhabi - The capital city of the United Arab Emirates - it is also the name of one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE.

Propaganda - Information, which may be biased or misleading, used to promote a certain viewpoint.

Financial Fair Play - A set of rules to make sure that football clubs do not spend more money than they make.