Manchester City have been charged with more than 100 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, it emerged on Monday.
Allegedly, Manchester City have flouted rules relating to financial reporting, manager and player play, UEFA Financial Fair play, Premier League sustainability regulations and the duty to cooperate with the Premier League.
In a sudden, brazen move, the Premier League published an article relating to the charges on its website on Monday.
Read: Manchester City And Arsenal Fall To Familiar Failings
Their approach and sheer scope of the charges suggests the Premier League is dedicated to and confident of punishing City.
A number of sanctions are being speculated over including a points deduction and relegation. Financial punishment is, obviously, pointless.
“The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position,” said a City statement.
“As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”
The denial was predictable, but the club will know this isn’t going to go away. It depends on whether they want to resolve it now, or drag it out over years.
If sanctions are brought quickly, a points deduction would hugely impact this years’ title race. With Arsenal already ahead of them, such a thing could make winning a seventh title since their 2008 takeover almost impossible.
As well as that, the position of Pep Guardiola is under question. The manager is on record saying he would leave if it was ever found City were bending the rules.
Want to bet on the Premier League? See our reviews section to find the best markets for you!
“I said to them, ‘If you lie to me, I am not here. I will be out,’ he said in May 2022.
According to the Daily Mail, ‘staff behind the scenes at Manchester City expect Pep Guardiola to have already departed before any possible sanctions for financial rule breaches hit’.
It feels dramatic but of course, we are used to mega-rich clubs worming their way out of situations like this. This feels more seismic, though, and the Premier League appear confident. This calls into question the integrity of professional football and could leave a dark stain on this period in history.
Time will tell.
