Oasis will play Manchester City anthem Blue Moon on their new tour, as the club launched its bid to clear its name over accusations of financial rule breaches. Celebrity fan Liam Gallagher announced the terrace tune was now on the band's setlist.
The band plans to play it every night of their 42-date world tour next year, including 11 performances at City's Etihad Stadium.
Fan message sparks announcement
Liam was sparked into action by a City fan who tweeted a message warning rival supporters to behave if they attend Oasis concerts following the independent panel's ruling the club breached funding rules by arranging 'sham' contracts over nine years to secretly pump £830m into its coffers.
Its punishment has not been decided but it could face possible expulsion from the Premier League, points deductions, fines, relegation and stripping of trophies.
The City supporter messaged lifelong club devotee Gallagher on X: “I wonder if any fans of the red cartel are going to be heading to Oasis gigs this summer. “After all we are a bunch of f****** cheats aren’t we. @liamgallagher am sure will make you all aware if you do attend on how to act.” They added a fist punch emoji.
Liam replied: “BLUE MOON in the set as of NOW.”
Club lodges appeal
It came as City declared its innocence and announced it had lodged a ‘comprehensive appeal’ against the guilty verdicts which it dismissed as ‘the opinion of the Premier League Commission’.
The club said the judgement contained ‘clear material errors’ and had evidence to support its case.
Its statement said the club has ‘lodged its comprehensive appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter’.
It went on: “The Club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.
“The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions relating to this case.
“We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete.”
Support from key figures
Chief executive Ferran Soriano called the process a ‘Premier League conspiracy theory’ in a video message to players and staff.
Its former manager of 10 trophy-laden years Pep Guardiola posted a message of support to players, staff, fans and ownership saying: “I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here more than ever.
“I am, always have been, always will be, behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, staff, Enzo (Maresca) and you, our unique supporters.
“Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.”
A Premier League spokesman said City had ‘appealed the decision of an independent commission’.
“The independent Appeal Board hearing will remain private and confidential until publication of the outcome is permitted,” they added.
The three-strong Appeal Board will be appointed by Sir Gary Hickinbottom, chairman of the Judicial Panel that probed City's breaches. The board has ‘wide discretion’ to allow the appeal, dismiss it or make ‘any other order that it thinks fit’.
A Football Association spokesman said the commission's ruling had ‘significant implications for the integrity of the game’.
“We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate,” they added. “As proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing we do not intend to comment further at this stage. We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely.”
Ex-Liverpool and England striker Stan Collymore, now a football pundit, said the situation was ‘a mess’.
“I couldn't sleep. I just want to watch my team compete with any other and we all have a fighter's chance of winning,” he said. “And at 3am I genuinely thought ‘this may kill English football’. And that's enough to keep any genuine fan up at night.
“Never ever did I think I'd see the day that something like this could happen. Lawyers, clubs suing clubs, state ownership, politicians involved. I just want to watch the game, see player v player without enhancement and club v club without enhancement.
“I saw it aged 11 and f****** loved it. Then lived it. I just want the sport back. That's the truth.”
