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. City wins, the sky is as blue as their shirts, nothing ever changes.

Even factoring in the usual sour grapesAn expression used to denote the jealousy of someone who is angry because others have achieved what they cannot. about another team's success, the sense of bitterness surrounding City is palpableObvious or able to be felt. The word comes from a Latin verb meaning to touch gently..

Previously, English football fans prided themselves on their competitive, exciting leagues. In Italy, France, Germany, there was little drama: Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern lifted the trophy every season. Even in Spain it was only ever Real Madrid or Barcelona.

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, it is just another obvious and unsurprising European league.

City's play is technically superb. Their tactical perfection just strangles every opponent. No rival has any answer to it. 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. Across two decades, 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.

In recent years, critics have claimed that City has become the personal property of 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. It has poured money into the club, they say, and as a result City has become part of the propaganda machine of the tiny oil-rich emirateA territory ruled by an emir, roughly equivalent to a principality. The UAE, for example, is made up of seven emirates. .

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 That investigation has now dragged on for years, and many fans think it is not fair that City is allowed to carry on playing and 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. We look for those sparks of brilliance that only come about from players fired up by sheer love of the game and the ecstatic joy of supporters who are completely devoted to their side.

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.

Sour grapes - An expression used to denote the jealousy of someone who is angry because others have achieved what they cannot.

Palpable - Obvious or able to be felt. The word comes from a Latin verb meaning to touch gently.

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.

Emirate - A territory ruled by an emir, roughly equivalent to a principality. The UAE, for example, is made up of seven emirates.

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