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English football’s biggest case: Why Manchester City could lose points, titles or their place in Premier League

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English football’s biggest case: Why Manchester City could lose points, titles or their place in Premier League


Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League for breaking its financial rules, The Athletic reported on Friday, citing sources briefed on the matter. BBC Sport said it had separately been told that the independent panel hearing the case had ruled and upheld most of the charges. Bloomberg, quoting a person familiar with the process, reported that City had been found guilty of nearly all of them.

City have been the most successful club in England since Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) bought them in 2008. (AP Photo)

Neither side has confirmed the verdict. The Premier League declined to comment. City said in a statement that “the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality”. The club added that it had “diligently respected due process for eight years” on the basis that the league’s board and executive would behave as “an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence”. But City are expected to appeal. A person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press (AP) that an appeal would take several months.

City have been the most successful club in England since Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) bought them in 2008. Over that time, they have won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and the 2023 Champions League. They top the table this season after winning their first five matches under Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola at the end of last season.

Also Read | Manchester City charges explained: What the 115 allegations covered, what they were found guilty of and what comes next

The punishments could range from a reprimand and fines to points deductions and expulsion from the league.

What City were accused of

The Premier League charged City in February 2023, after a four-year investigation, and referred the case to an independent commission. Most of the charges concern alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018. The rest relate to the club’s conduct during the investigation.

BBC Sport said the charges are for:

  • Failing to provide accurate financial information in every season from 2009-10 to 2017-18
  • Failing to provide accurate details of payments to players and managers over those nine seasons
  • Failing to comply with Uefa rules, including financial fair play (FFP), from 2013-14 to 2017-18
  • Breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) from 2015-16 to 2017-18
  • Failing to co-operate with the Premier League’s investigation between December 2018 and February 2023

Uefa’s FFP and the Premier League’s PSR, which the league introduced in 2012, both cap the losses a club may make. In practice, clubs must broadly spend what they earn, and commercial deals are assessed to check they are worth what the club claims, AP reported. Premier League rules also require clubs to provide accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position, BBC Sport reported.

The allegations stem from leaked e-mails and documents that German magazine Der Spiegel began publishing in 2018.

They cover three kinds of alleged conduct. The first concerns sponsorship. Der Spiegel alleged that City inflated income from two Abu Dhabi companies, the state-owned airline Etihad and the state-controlled telecoms firm Etisalat. According to the magazine, the money came from ADUG and was channelled through the two companies’ accounts, so that it appeared as sponsorship. This, it was alleged, helped City stay within the loss limits set by FFP and PSR.

Also Read | Rodri confident in Man City innocence despite reported charges

The second concerns Roberto Mancini, City’s manager at the time. Documents purportedly showed off-the-books payments to him through consultancy fees from Al Jazira, another club owned by Sheikh Mansour. Der Spiegel claimed Mancini was paid more as an adviser to Al Jazira than for managing City, according to The Athletic. Mancini denied any wrongdoing.

The third is that City paid players more than was officially recorded, so that the club’s accounts showed lower spending than it actually incurred.

City, along with the companies involved, strongly denied breaking any financial rules.

The club refused to comment on Der Spiegel’s reports, saying the e-mails had been obtained illegally and were an “attempt to damage the club’s reputation”.

The period covered by the charges spans the tenures of Mancini and his successor Manuel Pellegrini, and Guardiola’s first two seasons in charge. Guardiola has previously backed the club’s position.

Who owns City, and why it matters

ADUG is the investment vehicle of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He is the brother of the president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the country’s deputy prime minister.

City is widely considered one of the most successful sporting investments from West Asia.

The ownership is central to the case because the key allegation involves money moving between the owner and Abu Dhabi companies. City maintain that ADUG is a private fund and have always denied being state-owned.

The club has also faced wider criticism. Human rights campaigners have claimed City are being used to “sportswash” what Amnesty International has called the UAE’s “deeply tarnished image”. City have always denied that the club is being used to enhance the country’s reputation.

The case also has diplomatic implications. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been trying to improve Britain’s relations with the UAE since taking office, Bloomberg reported. Asked whether City should be stripped of their titles, Burnham told ITV Granada Reports: “I think we would all need to study the independent commission’s report in some considerable detail before reaching any conclusions,” according to AFP.

UK’s culture secretary Lisa Nandy told BBC Radio 5 Live that the government “can’t apply those rules for the Premier League”, and that the league would “have to resolve this as swiftly as possible”. Caroline Dinenage, chair of Parliament’s culture, media and sport committee, said in a statement that “the extraordinary length and cost of this process raise serious concerns”, Reuters reported.

A long road to the verdict

City’s difficulties with financial regulators began before the leaks.

In May 2014, Uefa fined the club £49 million, £32 million of it suspended, for breaching FFP limits. It also restricted City to a 21-man squad for the 2014-15 Champions League. The club maintained it had been compliant.

Der Spiegel published its first articles on November 5, 2018. They were based on documents from Football Leaks, a whistleblower platform set up by Portuguese computer hacker Rui Pinto, according to The Athletic.

Uefa opened a formal investigation in March 2019. In February 2020, it banned City from European competitions for two years and fined them €30 million. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) overturned the ban five months later. It found that the alleged breaches were either not established or time-barred, meaning they had happened too long ago to be punished under Uefa’s regulations.

Cas did find that City had failed to co-operate with Uefa by failing to provide substantial amounts of evidence. It called that breach “severe”, and City were fined £8.8 million. Failure to co-operate also accounts for 35 of the Premier League’s 115 charges, according to BBC Sport.

The Premier League cases moved more slowly. In July 2021, City lost a ruling on jurisdiction, which allowed the media to report that the league was investigating them. The charges followed in February 2023. The hearing ran from September 16 to December 6, 2024, before a commission of three people appointed by the independent chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel, Reuters reported. Their identities will become public only once a written judgment is released.

What happens now

A finding of guilt is only the first stage. A sanctions hearing must follow, and it could take months. The punishment may be made public before or after an appeal, BBC Sport reported. City can appeal against the commission’s judgment directly but cannot take the case to Cas, as they did in 2020.

The Premier League’s handbook lists the sanctions under Rule W.51: a reprimand, fines, points deductions and expulsion. Rule W.51.7 allows the panel to combine them or impose other sanctions it considers appropriate. Whatever it chooses must be proportionate to the breaches, or it risks being overturned on appeal, according to The Athletic.

Fines and points deductions can be immediate or suspended, and points can be taken retrospectively.

Expulsion would mean City lose their Premier League membership and are demoted to a lower division at the end of the season. A large enough points deduction would have the same effect. The BBC also reported that several City players do not have release clauses in their contracts covering relegation.

“There is a wide range of options, with a transfer ban at the more moderate end of the spectrum and expulsion from the league the most severe repercussion,” Ian Hargreaves, a partner at disputes firm Quillon Law, told Reuters. He added that much would depend on the detail of the panel’s findings and reasoning, and whether they could withstand a hard-fought appeal.

Titles and compensation

City won eight trophies during the period covered by the charges:

  • Three Premier League titles, in 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2017-18
  • The 2011 FA Cup
  • Three League Cups, in 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18
  • One Community Shield

If the commission chose to hand those titles to the runners-up, the beneficiaries would be:

  • Premier League: Manchester United for 2011-12 and 2017-18, and Liverpool for 2013-14
  • FA Cup: Stoke City
  • League Cups: Sunderland, Liverpool and Arsenal

Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United defender who played in the side that finished second to City in 2011-12, posted on X: “Another Premier League medal to be added to the cabinet.”

But lawyers say it may not come to that. “Generally, panels don’t like deciding titles in a court process. Doing it that way does not give a real tangible punishment to the club,” James Hill, a sports regulatory lawyer at Onside Law, had told The Athletic in 2023.

Money may be the bigger fight. Premier League clubs are seeking legal advice on claiming compensation from City. Paul Gilroy KC, a football law expert, told BBC Radio 4 that four clubs had already lodged protective claims, reserving the right to seek compensation if City were found guilty.

There is a recent precedent. In June, Everton were ordered to pay Burnley £35 million, made up of £26 million in damages and £9 million in interest. Burnley had argued that Everton’s breach of the profitability rules, which related to the 2021-22 season, hurt their chances of staying in the Premier League. Everton are appealing.

Christian Purslow, a former Liverpool managing director and Aston Villa chief executive, said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that every club in each affected season suffered “easy-to-compute loss”, with every league place worth £3 million. Clubs that missed out on the Champions League, or were relegated, may have lost far more. “A never-ending waterfall of legal claims and uncertainties for another four or five years would be absolutely appalling for the game,” he said.

How other clubs have been punished

Everton were deducted eight points in the 2023-24 season. They were docked six points for one breach, reduced from 10 on appeal, and two for a second. Nottingham Forest lost four points in March 2024. Both sets of cases involved exceeding permitted losses over a three-year period. These were single charges, and far simpler to assess than the ones against City.

Also Read | What are Manchester City’s 115 charges? ‘Guilty’ verdict puts nine trophies in focus

Chelsea were fined a record £10 million and given a suspended transfer ban in 2026, after the club admitted making more than £47 million in secret payments linked to transfers in the 2010s. The Premier League accepted that the case involved “deception and concealment in relation to financial matters”. It applied leniency because Chelsea’s new owners had reported the breaches themselves and co-operated, the BBC reported.

In Italy, Juventus were deducted 10 points in Serie A in 2023 over inflated transfer revenue, after an initial 15-point penalty was overturned and re-examined. Uefa then removed them from the Europa Conference League and fined them €20 million, half of it conditional on future compliance.

Juventus chose not to appeal. Club president Gianluca Ferrero said it could “now face the new season by focusing on the field and not on the courts”, AP reported.

City’s case differs from all of these. The club denies every charge and is contesting the case. It has had no change of ownership that could count as mitigation. The alleged breaches cover more than a decade, which has been described as unprecedented in scale.

What is still unknown

The Premier League has not published the commission’s judgment. It is not yet known which charge the panel rejected, who sat on it, how it reasoned, or what punishment it will impose.

Other Premier League clubs have been told of the decision by e-mail, and a select group of directors had to sign a non-disclosure agreement before reading it, a source told the BBC. No date has been given for an official announcement.


Chinese Horoscope September 27, 2026: Today maybe a day for Patience, Practical Choices and Unexpected Possibilities

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Chinese Horoscope September 27, 2026: Today maybe a day for Patience, Practical Choices and Unexpected Possibilities


Today’s Chinese zodiac readings point to a mix of steady progress, small shifts, and moments that may call for a little extra caution. While some signs could find it easier to build momentum, others may need to slow down, avoid unnecessary pressure, or take a second look before making important decisions. Relationships may benefit from patience and open communication, while career and financial matters favour practical thinking, careful review, and steady follow-through over bold moves. Nothing is set in stone, and the day’s energy may play out differently for each sign. From unexpected opportunities to situations that call for restraint, see what your zodiac sign may be hinting at today.

Chinese Horoscope today (pinterest)

Rat (鼠)1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020

Overall Rating: Balanced / 平

The day works well with Rat energy, so it may be easier to build momentum than usual. Progress comes more smoothly when you stay cooperative, practical, and willing to work with others instead of pushing too hard.

Your sign, Rat – Water, supports today’s Wood energy. This puts the focus on effort, output, and creativity more than easy luck. You can get a lot done, but pacing matters because productivity may also leave you more tired than usual.

Love:

Nothing needs to be settled in a rush. Give emotional matters room to breathe, and let conversations unfold naturally instead of trying to force a clear answer today.

Career and Wealth:

Keep work organized and routine. Admin, planning, follow-up, and clearing unfinished tasks will be more useful than making a bold new move or trying to prove a point.

This is a neutral money day that favors review more than expansion. Check the numbers carefully, look over paperwork, and make sure your decisions are based on facts rather than mood.

Health:

Nothing extreme is needed. Stick to the basics, keep your routine steady, and pay attention to early signs that your body or mind needs rest before small strain turns into bigger fatigue.

Lucky Number: 2

Lucky Color: Plum purple

Advice:

Choose maintenance over unnecessary expansion. Steady progress will serve you better than taking on extra pressure just because you can.

Note:

Your sign (Rat) clashes with the Horse energy of 2026. This is why astrologers generally advise Rat-born people to be more cautious with risks and unnecessary confrontations this year.

Ox (牛) 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

Overall Rating: Challenging / 凶

The day may bring small delays, changes, or mixed signals for Ox. Keep your plans flexible, leave extra room in your schedule, and try not to rely on everything going exactly as expected.

Today’s Wood energy puts pressure on your sign, Ox – Earth. This makes discipline, rules, patience, and careful handling of responsibilities more helpful than speed or strong reactions.

Love:

This is not a day for ultimatums or heavy emotional pressure. Keep the peace where you can, stay measured in your words, and come back to sensitive topics when everyone is calmer.

Career and Wealth:

If possible, postpone risky launches or confrontational meetings. Focus on protecting your position, handling essentials well, and avoiding drama that could drain time and energy.

This is not a good day for impulsive commitments. Protect cash flow, review bills and obligations, and think twice before agreeing to purchases, promises, or financial pressure from others.

Health:

Conserve energy and keep things simple. Gentle food, steady hydration, enough rest, and a quieter pace are the safest choices if you want to stay balanced through the day.

Lucky Number: 6

Lucky Color: Cinnabar red

Advice:

Avoid battles that can wait. Not every problem needs an immediate answer, and patience will help you make better choices.

Note:

Your sign (Ox) has a mild yearly tension with the Horse energy of 2026. This does not block progress, but it does favor practical choices and lower drama.

Tiger (虎)1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022

Overall Rating: Balanced / 平

The day has a neutral influence on Tiger, with no strong push in either direction. That makes steady choices especially important because results are more likely to reflect your own habits and decisions.

Your sign, Tiger – Wood, shares the same element as the day. This draws attention to peers, networking, teamwork, competitors, and the people moving around you, so how you handle group energy will matter.

Love:

Nothing needs to be settled in a rush. Give emotional matters time and space, and let feelings settle before trying to define everything too quickly.

Career and Wealth:

Keep work routine and organized. Admin, planning, coordination, and cleanup will be more useful than a bold new move, especially if other people’s opinions are changing around you.

A neutral money day favors review rather than expansion. Check the numbers, look over details, and give practical decisions a second look before committing.

Health:

Nothing extreme is needed. Maintain the basics, keep your routine steady, and listen to early signals from the body or mind that suggest you need rest, food discipline, or a slower pace.

Lucky Number: 1

Lucky Color: Ink black

Advice:

Choose maintenance over unnecessary expansion. Staying consistent will get better results today than chasing more just because the option appears.

Rabbit (兔) 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023

Overall Rating: Balanced / 平

The day may bring small misunderstandings for Rabbit, especially in quick conversations or casual plans. Clear communication and a little patience will help far more than reacting on the spot. If something feels slightly off, slow down, ask one more question, and keep your tone calm.

Your sign, Rabbit – Wood, shares the same element as the day. This puts extra attention on peers, teamwork, networking, friendly competition, and the people moving around you. Other people’s moods and opinions may matter more than usual, so choose your company and your words with care.

Love:

Nothing needs to be settled in a rush. Give emotional matters room to breathe, and don’t force clarity before both people are ready. A calm conversation later will do more good than pushing for answers now.

Career and Wealth:

Keep work routine, practical, and organized. Admin, planning, follow-up, and cleanup will be more useful than a bold new move. If others are scattered, your steady approach can quietly keep things on track.

This is a neutral money day that favors review rather than expansion. Check the numbers, read the details, and pause before making a decision. Small practical choices will serve you better than taking on something extra.

Health:

Nothing extreme is needed today. Stick to the basics, keep your routine steady, and pay attention to early signals from the body. Rest, regular meals, and a little less rushing can help you feel more settled.

Lucky Number: 5

Lucky Color: Pearl white

Advice:

Choose maintenance over unnecessary expansion. Handle what’s already in front of you well, and let that be enough for today.

Dragon (龍) 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024

Overall Rating: Challenging / 凶

The day puts extra focus on Dragon, which can make you more aware, more productive, and more determined to get things right. It can also make you more likely to overthink, take too much personally, or create pressure for yourself. Do what matters, but don’t expect perfection from every moment.

Today’s Wood energy puts pressure on your sign, Dragon – Earth. This favors discipline, rules, patience, and careful handling of responsibilities. The more simple and orderly your approach is, the easier it will be to avoid unnecessary stress.

Love:

This isn’t a day for ultimatums or sharp emotional standoffs. Keep the peace where you can, and leave sensitive topics for a calmer time. A softer tone and a little space will protect the connection better than trying to win a point.

Career and Wealth:

If possible, postpone risky launches, confrontational meetings, or anything that could put you on the spot. Focus on protecting your position and handling the essentials well. Quiet competence will take you further today than force or speed.

This isn’t a good day for impulsive commitments or big promises. Protect cash flow, review obligations, and make sure payments or paperwork are clear. Staying conservative now can save you from avoidable pressure later.

Health:

Conserve energy and don’t overload your system. Gentle food, steady hydration, and proper sleep are the safest choices today. If stress builds, simplify your schedule rather than pushing harder.

Lucky Number: 9

Lucky Color: Imperial gold

Advice:

Avoid battles that can wait. Not every issue needs your full response today, and some things will improve with time and distance.

Snake (蛇) 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025

Overall Rating: Balanced / 平

The day has a neutral influence on Snake. Nothing looks strongly positive or strongly negative, so steady choices matter most. Progress comes through calm judgment, not through forcing results or chasing drama.

Today’s Wood energy supports your sign, Snake – Fire. This points to help, guidance, recovery, and useful resources. You may find it easier to receive support, take good advice, or lean on what already works instead of doing everything alone.

Love:

Nothing needs to be settled in a rush. Give emotional matters time to breathe, and let feelings settle before drawing conclusions. A relaxed approach will make it easier to understand each other clearly.

Career and Wealth:

Keep work routine and organized. Admin, planning, follow-up, and cleanup are more useful now than a bold new move. If support is available, accept it and use it well instead of carrying every task by yourself.

A neutral money day favors review rather than expansion. Check the numbers, confirm details, and think practically before deciding. This is better for staying steady than for stretching your budget.

Health:

Nothing extreme is needed. Maintain the basics, protect your energy, and listen to early signals from the body. A simple routine, decent rest, and sensible food choices can keep you feeling balanced.

Lucky Number: 4

Lucky Color: River blue

Advice:

Choose maintenance over unnecessary expansion. Use what’s already working, and let steady effort do the job today.

Horse (馬) 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026

Overall Rating: Balanced / 平

The day feels neutral for Horse. There is no strong push in either direction, so steady choices and a calm pace will serve you best. If you stay practical and avoid creating pressure where none is needed, things can move along smoothly enough.

Today’s Wood energy supports your sign, Horse – Fire. This can bring help, guidance, recovery, and useful resources. You may notice that support is easier to receive when you ask for it, rather than trying to carry everything on your own.

Love:

Nothing needs to be settled in a rush today. Give emotional matters time to breathe, and let conversations unfold naturally. A little space can help both you and someone close see things more clearly.

Career and Wealth:

Keep work routine, organized, and manageable. Admin, planning, and cleanup are likely to be more useful now than a bold new move. If you deal with loose ends and practical tasks first, the day will feel more productive.

This is a neutral money day that favors review rather than expansion. Check the numbers carefully before deciding, especially if something looks simple at first glance. Small corrections now can save hassle later.

Health:

Nothing extreme is needed today. Maintain the basics, keep your routine steady, and listen to early signals from the body. Rest, food discipline, and pacing yourself will do more good than pushing harder.

Lucky Number: 8

Lucky Color: Earth ochre

Advice:

Choose maintenance over unnecessary expansion. Keep things simple, take care of what already needs attention, and let steadiness work in your favor.

Note:

Your sign (Horse) is directly connected with the ruling Horse energy of 2026. This is why astrologers generally advise moving carefully with major changes and avoiding unnecessary risks this year.

Goat (羊)1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

Overall Rating: Caution / 小凶

The day has a neutral effect on Goat. Nothing is strongly positive or negative, which means your results will depend more on how carefully you respond. Steady choices, patience, and a measured tone will help more than quick reactions.

Today’s Wood energy puts pressure on your sign, Goat – Earth. This favors discipline, rules, patience, and careful handling of responsibilities. The day works better when you stay grounded, follow the process, and resist the urge to react too fast.

Love:

Avoid taking moods personally today. Give close people a little breathing room, and don’t assume every silence means something is wrong. A softer response can prevent small tensions from growing.

Career and Wealth:

Review messages, contracts, and assumptions before sending or agreeing to anything. Details matter today, and it will pay to read twice instead of rushing once. Clear communication can save you from avoidable mix-ups.

Money needs caution today. Check due dates, account messages, and fine print before making a decision or payment. This is a better time for careful review than casual spending or loose promises.

Health:

Protect your energy from small irritations and unnecessary stress. A slower pace will help, especially if you have been juggling too much at once. Keep your routine simple and give yourself a little more breathing space.

Lucky Number: 3

Lucky Color: Jade green

Advice:

Double-check details and avoid sharp reactions. Patience, restraint, and careful timing will get you further than trying to force quick results.

Monkey (猴)1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016

Overall Rating: Good / 吉

The day works well with Monkey. Momentum is easier to build, especially when you choose cooperation over pressure. You can make solid progress now by staying practical, reading the room well, and keeping your effort consistent.

Your sign, Monkey – Metal, has a controlling influence over today’s Wood energy. This brings focus to money, management, decisions, and taking practical command of a situation. You are in a good position to bring order to what has felt scattered or unfinished.

Love:

Connections improve through patience today. Give people room, listen fully, and respond without defensiveness. A calm approach can make interactions warmer and more natural than trying to prove a point.

Career and Wealth:

Work rewards steady effort. Finish one concrete task well before opening something new, and you’ll build useful momentum. Practical follow-through will impress others more than flashy ideas right now.

A sensible financial choice can help today. Keep the focus on paperwork, budgeting, and practical control, especially if there are loose ends to sort out. Good management matters more than taking chances.

Health:

A calm routine supports well-being. Small healthy choices will be enough, especially if you stay regular with meals, rest, and pacing. You don’t need to do anything dramatic to feel more balanced.

Lucky Number: 7

Lucky Color: Plum purple

Advice:

Build on what is already working. Keep your attention on solid progress, good judgment, and the practical steps that strengthen your position.

Rooster (雞)1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

Overall Rating: Good / 吉

The day has a supportive influence on Rooster. People may be easier to deal with, conversations can flow more smoothly, and practical help may appear at the right time. There is a little more ease around your plans than usual, so use it well.

Your sign, Rooster – Metal, has a controlling influence over today’s Wood energy. This puts attention on money, management, decisions, and taking practical command of a situation. It is a good day to be clear, organized, and realistic about what needs handling.

Love:

Connections improve through patience and a calm tone. Give people room to express themselves, and respond without defensiveness. A softer approach can clear up small tensions and help trust grow again.

Career and Wealth:

Work rewards steady effort more than speed. Finish one concrete task well before opening something new, because completion will bring better results than scattered progress. Quiet competence gets noticed.

A sensible financial choice can help today. Keep the focus on paperwork, budgeting, and practical control, especially with small details that are easy to ignore. Reviewing what you already have in place is likely to be more useful than chasing something extra.

Health:

A calm routine supports well-being. Small healthy choices will be enough, especially if you keep your pace steady and avoid overloading your day. Regular meals, a little rest, and a less rushed mindset can help energy stay even.

Lucky Number: 2

Lucky Color: Cinnabar red

Advice:

Build on what is already working, and let steady progress do the heavy lifting.

Dog (狗) 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

Overall Rating: Challenging / 凶

The day challenges Dog more directly. It will help to slow down, avoid unnecessary arguments, and double-check important choices before you commit. Pressure may show up through people, timing, or extra duties, so keep your responses measured.

Today’s Wood energy puts pressure on your sign, Dog – Earth. This favors discipline, rules, patience, and careful handling of responsibilities. The less reactive you are, the more stable the day becomes.

Love:

This is not a day for ultimatums or emotionally loaded demands. Keep the peace where you can, and return to sensitive topics later when everyone is calmer. A little restraint now can prevent a bigger misunderstanding.

Career and Wealth:

Postpone risky launches or confrontational meetings if possible. Protect your position, handle essentials, and stay close to what is already clear and necessary. A careful, low-drama approach will serve you better than trying to force a result.

This is not a good day for impulsive commitments. Protect cash flow, review obligations, and be cautious with promises, payments, or purchases that create pressure later. Simple, practical decisions are the safest ones.

Health:

Conserve energy and don’t push past your limits. Gentle food, steady hydration, and sleep are the safest choices, especially if stress has been building. A quieter routine will help you feel more settled.

Lucky Number: 6

Lucky Color: Ink black

Advice:

Avoid battles that can wait, and give yourself the benefit of patience.

Pig (豬):1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Overall Rating: Balanced / 平

The day has a neutral influence on Pig. Nothing is strongly positive or negative, so steady choices matter most. Results will depend more on how you manage your time, mood, and priorities than on outside luck.

Your sign, Pig – Water, supports today’s Wood energy. This means the day highlights effort, output, and creativity more than easy luck. You may feel productive and mentally engaged, but also a little more tired than usual if you keep pushing without pause.

Love:

Nothing needs to be settled in a rush. Give emotional matters time to breathe, and let conversations unfold naturally instead of trying to force clarity too quickly. A relaxed tone will help more than pressing for answers.

Career and Wealth:

Keep work routine and organized. Admin, planning, and cleanup are more useful than a bold new move, and they can quietly set you up for better progress later. Focus on what is unfinished, scattered, or overdue.

A neutral money day favors review rather than expansion. Check the numbers before deciding, and make sure practical details are clear before spending or agreeing to anything. Caution is more useful than enthusiasm right now.

Health:

Nothing extreme is needed. Maintain the basics and listen to early signals from the body, especially if tiredness creeps in gradually. Rest, regular food, and a manageable pace will do more good than trying to power through.

Lucky Number: 1

Lucky Color: Pearl white

Advice:

Choose maintenance over unnecessary expansion, and let steady effort carry the day.

How Today’s Readings Were Calculated

Today’s Day Pillar is 甲辰 (Jia Chen) – Wood Dragon Day. In the traditional Chinese calendar, the Day Pillar describes the main character and energy of the day. Wood is associated with growth, effort, creativity, and new ideas, while Dragon energy emphasizes ambition, confidence, visibility, and larger goals.

The Day Officer is 危 (Wei) – Danger. Danger days favor caution, quiet attention, and avoiding unnecessary risk. The Day Officer describes the overall mood of the day and the kinds of activity that tend to suit it best.

The year is 丙午 (Bing Wu) – Fire Horse Year. This provides the broader background influence for 2026. Fire is associated with action, confidence, warmth, and visibility, while Horse energy emphasizes movement, independence, enthusiasm, and a faster pace.

Each prediction is created by comparing the reader’s animal sign with the Wood Dragon day, its elemental relationship, the Danger Day Officer, and the broader Fire Horse year.

Dr. Achary Kalki Krishnan

(Vastu consultant, Vedic astrologer, Researcher, Educator & Corporate mentor)


When the referee fumbles: Election Commission row explained in 7 key questions | India News

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When the referee fumbles: Election Commission row explained in 7 key questions | India News



The CEC can have a distinct role within the institution, but the law does not provide for a system in which the CEC’s view automatically prevails over the other two commissioners.

NEW DELHI: Elections are, by their very nature, a contest.Political parties fight for ground, candidates wage fierce campaigns and voters ultimately decide whom to trust with their mandate.Through it all, the Election Commission is meant to stand apart and monitor the process. Its role is to frame the rules, enforce them fairly and ensure that the contest remains even-handed.Yet, in recent days, the spotlight has moved away from those fighting the election and towards the institution meant to referee it.The players are no longer the only ones under scrutiny. Increasingly, the referee itself has become the subject of the debate.A report in The Indian Express claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi repeatedly raised objections with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over decisions and communications that they said were issued without their knowledge or approval.The Election Commission has rejected the suggestion that the episode points to a breakdown in its functioning. It has maintained that differences of opinion are a normal part of institutional deliberation and that all final decisions of the Commission have been unanimous.That leaves a larger constitutional question at the heart of the controversy: how is India’s election watchdog actually supposed to function?Is the Chief Election Commissioner the boss of the Election Commission, or simply the first among three equals? What happens when the three commissioners disagree? And why has the law governing their appointment become a subject of such intense controversy?

What triggered the latest EC controversy?

On September 23, The Indian Express reported that Sandhu and Joshi had, on multiple occasions, objected to decisions and communications they said were taken or issued without their prior knowledge.According to the report, the two commissioners recorded such objections on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months.The issues reportedly ranged from changes to electoral forms and access to the voter database to the allocation of work within the Commission and the filing of appeals involving electoral rolls.The report has since triggered a wider debate over whether the Election Commission’s three members are exercising their powers collectively, as the law envisages, or whether the CEC has acquired a greater role in practice.

What did the two ECs object to?

According to the Indian Express report, the concerns raised by Sandhu and Joshi covered several aspects of the Commission’s functioning.

  • Changes to Form 6: The two commissioners reportedly objected to changes made to Form 6, the application citizens use to register as new electors, without following due process. In May, Joshi warned that the form could not be altered without an amendment to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. On August 13, Sandhu reportedly described the change as “unauthorised and illegal” and called for its immediate removal.
  • Access to electoral roll data: The commissioners also reportedly raised concerns about whether statutory authorities responsible for maintaining electoral rolls had complete access to voter data on the ERONet portal. Joshi flagged what he described as the “gradual centralisation of the electoral roll database” and proposed an audit to establish that only authorised officials had credentials to modify voter data. Sandhu, separately, recorded that state-level election officials had complained of not having “proper and complete access” to ERONet. He also questioned whether the Commission’s director general of IT, Seema Khanna, had the legal authority to restrict access for statutory officials such as Electoral Registration Officers.
  • Changes in work allocation: Joshi and Sandhu reportedly wrote separately to the cabinet secretary objecting to changes in the allocation of work that removed a layer of oversight over the Commission’s IT infrastructure. They said the changes had been made without their knowledge.
  • West Bengal SIR appeals: During the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal, the Election Commission filed around 16.10 lakh appeals involving voters whose names judicial officers had added. The appeals were heard by tribunals headed by retired high court judges appointed by the Supreme Court. According to the report, neither the two election commissioners nor West Bengal’s chief electoral officer were informed about the basis or process for filing these appeals.
  • Restoration of voters in Goa: Another concern reportedly involved 97 eligible voters whose names had to be restored to Goa’s electoral rolls. Despite repeated requests from Electoral Registration Officers, the voters could not initially be restored because the ECI’s software did not have an option for reinstatement.
  • Communications issued in the ECI’s name: The two commissioners also reportedly objected to communications being issued in the Election Commission’s name without what they considered to be the Commission’s full approval. They cited Article 324 of the Constitution as well as the 2023 law governing the poll panel.

Taken together, the reported objections raise a question that goes beyond any individual decision: how does a three-member constitutional body exercise collective authority when its members do not initially agree?

What did the Election Commission say?

The Election Commission strongly rejected the suggestion that its internal differences amount to a breakdown in decision-making, and added that all official orders and administrative directions had been issued unanimously.“Differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberation in any institution. They are a part of the decision-making process before a final decision is taken. Not only the three Commissioners, but every officer of the Commission is fully authorised to give his suggestions to the Commission for improving the electoral system,” the ECI said in a statement.“In recent months, the Commission has taken numerous decisions, issued instructions, introduced around 40 new initiatives and undertaken many electoral reforms, including the conduct of electoral roll revision (including SIR) across the country. All these decisions are an outcome of the unanimous decisions of the full Commission in the past one year,” the poll body added.It also criticised the media report, saying that highlighting specific internal notes over a period of 10 months gives only one part of the picture.“Highlighting certain specific internal notes/observations spread over the period of 10 months while overlooking the much larger body of approvals, decisions, instructions and initiatives give only one part of the picture,” it said.The disagreement, therefore, is not simply over whether commissioners have expressed reservations. It is over what those reservations mean for the functioning of the institution as a whole.

CEC or ECs: Who has the final say?

This is where the 2023 law becomes important.Section 18 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, provides that the Commission may, by unanimous decision, regulate how its business is conducted and allocate work among the CEC and the other Election Commissioners.It also says that, as far as possible, the Commission’s business should be transacted unanimously.But it makes an important provision for situations in which consensus is not possible.If the CEC and the other Election Commissioners differ on a matter, the issue is to be decided according to the opinion of the majority.In other words, the statutory framework does not make the CEC an executive superior to the other two commissioners. The three constitute the Commission collectively, while the CEC is the “first among equals”.The CEC can have a distinct role within the institution, but the law does not provide for a system in which the CEC’s view automatically prevails over the other two commissioners.Where the three disagree, the majority view is the deciding view.The controversy now centres on whether some of the decisions cited in the recent report were, in practice, implemented despite objections from the other two commissioners, and if so, how that squares with the statutory scheme governing the Commission’s decision-making.

Why is the 2023 EC law controversial?

The current controversy also brings back an older and deeper question: Who should appoint the people who conduct India’s elections?In March 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that Parliament had not yet enacted a law governing appointments to the Election Commission, despite Article 324 of the Constitution envisaging such a framework.Until Parliament enacted such a law, a Constitution bench prescribed an interim selection mechanism comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.The court stressed that an independent Election Commission was essential for democracy and observed that those entrusted with conducting elections must be insulated from executive influence.Parliament subsequently enacted the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.But the new law changed the composition of the selection committee.Instead of the Chief Justice of India, it provided for a Union Cabinet minister nominated by the Prime Minister. The committee therefore consists of the Prime Minister, a Union minister nominated by him and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.The opposition has alleged that the 2023 Act gives the executive “overwhelming” control over the appointment of Election Commissioners. The government, meanwhile, has defended the law and its institutional framework.

Matter in Supreme Court

The dispute has now reached the Supreme Court, where a challenge to the validity of the appointment law produced a split verdict.A two-judge SC bench differed over whether the matter should immediately be referred to a Constitution bench. Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma disagreed on that question, although both agreed that the matter should ultimately be placed before the Chief Justice of India for consideration by a larger bench.They also agreed that sending the case first to a three-judge bench would be of “little worth” and could further delay a final determination of the constitutional questions involved. The matter is likely to be heard by a 5-judge bench soon.The issue is vital as it extends beyond the current dispute inside the Election Commission. It touches a larger institutional question: How independent should the body conducting India’s elections be from the executive, and what safeguards should govern the appointment of those who head it?

Can a CEC actually be removed?

The latest controversy has also acquired a political dimension, with opposition parties preparing fresh notices seeking the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.According to media reports, the notices, being drafted and vetted by experts, are expected to be submitted in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha next week. The proposed notices are expected to include issues raised in the Indian Express report.This would not be the opposition’s first attempt.On April 7, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairperson CP Radhakrishnan rejected an earlier notice seeking Kumar’s removal. That notice had been signed by 130 Lok Sabha members and 63 Rajya Sabha members and alleged partisanship and arbitrariness in the conduct of the SIR exercise.Separately, a notice submitted by 73 opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha on April 24 seeking Kumar’s removal remains pending in the Upper House.But removing a CEC is deliberately difficult.Article 324(5) of the Constitution provides that the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only “in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court”.The same protection is incorporated into Section 11(2) of the 2023 Act.The other Election Commissioners enjoy a different safeguard: they cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the CEC.The higher threshold for removing a CEC is intended to protect the office from arbitrary or politically motivated removal.

What does it take to remove a CEC?

The removal process is rooted in the constitutional procedure applicable to Supreme Court judges.Article 124(4) of the Constitution, which lays down the procedure for removing a Supreme Court judge, states that a judge can be removed only by an order of the President following an address by each House of Parliament.Such an address must be supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of at least two-thirds of members present and voting, in the same session, on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.The process begins with a notice of motion in either House of Parliament alleging misbehaviour or incapacity. The notice must be signed by at least 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha or 50 MPs in the Rajya Sabha.The presiding officer of the concerned House can admit or refuse the motion after considering the material and information available. If the motion is admitted, an inquiry is conducted into the charges by a committee constituted for the purpose.If the charges are established, the motion must be passed by a majority of the total membership of each House and by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting in both Houses.Once both Houses pass the motion in accordance with these requirements, an address is made to the President, who then issues the order removing the CEC.The President’s role at this stage is constitutional and formal once Parliament has passed the required address.

How the EC evolved

The current structure of the Election Commission is itself the product of an institutional evolution.When the ECI was established in 1950, it was a single-member body, with the Chief Election Commissioner as its sole member.It became a three-member body for the first time in 1989, but that arrangement was short-lived. In January 1990, the VP Singh government reverted the Commission to a single-member structure.The system changed again in October 1993, when the PV Narasimha Rao government appointed MS Gill and GVG Krishnamurthy as Election Commissioners alongside CEC TN Seshan.Seshan challenged the appointments in the Supreme Court, arguing that the addition of commissioners diluted the authority of the CEC.In its 1995 judgment, a Constitution bench upheld the multi-member structure.The court made clear that the CEC was not institutionally superior to the other Election Commissioners. The three were intended to function collectively, with differences being resolved through the decision-making mechanism of the Commission.That judgment established the broad institutional framework that exists today.

The big picture

The Election Commission is not designed as a hierarchy in which one person commands and two others merely assist. Nor is it simply three independent offices operating in parallel. It is a constitutional body meant to function collectively.The law provides for unanimity where possible and a majority where consensus fails.The CEC occupies the position of first among equals, rather than that of a superior authority.The significance of the current controversy, therefore, lies not merely in the existence of disagreements within the Commission. Differences are inevitable in any institution exercising such enormous constitutional responsibility.The larger question is what happens after those differences arise: whether they remain part of an internal deliberative process, as the ECI maintains, or whether they reflect a deeper dispute over how collective authority is being exercised.

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