Manchester City’s 115 charges for alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules continue to cast a shadow over the club. An independent commission is yet to publish a ruling a year and a half after a disciplinary hearing concluded.
Potential punishments, if the club are found guilty, include a fine, a points deduction and even being kicked out of the Premier League. City have always denied any wrongdoing.
Estimates of when the outcome will be revealed have varied wildly over the last 12 months. It has been suggested that the verdict could be disclosed this summer. Sports lawyer Tom Murray this week said the saga could run for another two years.
During the impasse, City have continued to spend big and pick up trophies. Despite being pipped to the Premier League title by Arsenal, they have won both domestic cup competitions this season. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola will be departing after the final-day clash against Aston Villa. Here’s a round-up of what pundits have been saying about the saga…
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Alluding to City’s continued spending power, the talkSPORT pundit said: “It’s lovely if you’re Manchester City, when you can dip into the transfer market in January and buy the best two players in the division in their positions.
“That is a massive advantage for Man City that they keep on being able to do. When we talk about asterisks, like that ridiculous observation that [Alan] Pardew made that Arsenal can win the league with an asterisk [because of their style of play]… We’ve still got a great big asterisk hanging over Man City for the last 10 years, haven’t we?”
The Newcastle legend and BBC pundit disagrees that the unresolved charges take anything away from their success. Speaking in 2024, Shearer said: “No, not for these players it shouldn’t, it is not their fault. They have just got to go out and perform on the football pitch.
“The club will have to answer the charges, but those players have been superb and you cannot take anything away from what they have achieved.”
Speaking on his Stick to Football this month, Neville called the long continued wait for a resolution “a disgrace.” He said: “I think it’s a shame on the game that this hasn’t been resolved yet.
“It’s a disgrace it’s taken so long, it’s absolutely shocking. In the meantime, Everton, Forest and other clubs have been punished. They could get off every single charge. I know you’ve [Ian Wright] gone quiet there… they could.”
View 3 ImagesGary Neville has had his say on City(Image: Sky Sports)
In response, the Arsenal legend said: “Really? If they get off every single charge, are we all gonna go ‘Oh God, can’t believe that happened but let’s get on with it.’ It’s not like five or six, it’s 115!”
Neville added: “The very important principle in this country of innocent until proven guilty. My view would be that we haven’t found the level of guilt yet, or any guilt yet.”
Speaking in 2023, Carragher said the saga would leave an asterisk on City’s achievements until a verdict was announced: “Manchester City, rightly so, they defend themselves and say they’re innocent of all charges.
“But if you’re innocent of all charges, why do people keep saying that we’re going to kick the can down the road? That this is going to go on for two to four years? Manchester City don’t want this. Man City supporters don’t want it. The Premier League don’t want it.
“It’s not good when we’re talking about one of the greatest teams we’ve seen of all-time in the Premier League, and managers, that there is this almost asterisk above it until this is all sorted out.”
View 3 ImagesJamie Carragher’s plea for a quick resolution hasn’t been answered(Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
In October 2024, the Manchester United hardman called for judgment to be reserved until the outcome is announced. He said on Stick to Football: “Why don’t we wait until the verdict comes out? We’ve been asking for it to come to a head; there will always be a bit of a sideshow…
“City’s argument is, obviously, they’ve done nothing wrong. City have always said they’ve done nothing illegal. So we’ll find out in the next few months.”
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