Could this poker face be masking a game of bluff and tumble?

KHALDOON AL MUBARAK must be quite the poker player.

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Looking at the demeanour of the Manchester City chairman, you would have absolutely no idea that he could be implicated in the biggest scandal in the history of English football.

Allegedly.

Al Mubarak’s Etihad empire will collapse like a pack of cards if it's announced that the Premier League have proved him to be a key player in the conspiracy that led to City being hit with 130 charges of fraudulent behaviour almost 28 months ago.

Because that's exactly what the Premier League's lawyers are claiming.

The allegations against City have nothing to do with breaking FFP or PSR.

These charges claim that some of the business world’s biggest players colluded to fake sponsorship deals to boost City’s bank balance.

You would think the Fraud Squad and the Inland Revenue would be interested observers.

Strange then that Al Mubarak continues to exude all the assurance of someone holding a royal flush while the sucker across the table is about to go all-in with a pair of twos.

Judgement day can't be far off.

The independent tribunal appointed to rule on the case concluded in early December.