CITY’S LINGERING FINANCIAL CHARGES CAST BIG SHADOW OVER PREM
NO ONE outside the boardroom at Manchester City knows for sure whether the club are guilty of the 115 charges levelled against them by the Premier League.
Did City cook the books to meet financial regulations? I have absolutely no idea.
The Premier League insist their champions have a case to answer – City have pleaded their innocence and I’m a firm believer that everyone is innocent until it has been proved otherwise.
But the issue continues to cast a huge shadow over the biggest and best league in the world.
And it can’t be allowed to continue much longer. It brings the Premier League itself into disrepute. I understand there is a legal process to be followed – and that lawyers aren’t renowned for going about their business quickly when they are being paid handsomely by the hour.
But the reality is that, until the issue is resolved, one way or the other, then there will be question marks placed against City’s achievements.
With apologies to fans of the club I once played for – and still have affection for – that’s human nature.
In fact, even if City do clear their name and show they have adhered to the Premier League’s profit-and-sustainability rules, there will always be people out there who think there couldn’t have been so much smoke without some kind of fire. Again, that’s the world we live in. The social media outrage after Everton were docked 10 points by the Premier League on Friday illustrates that.
Of course, Evertonians were shocked to the core because the punishment brings the very real threat of relegation.
The Blues announced immediately that they will appeal – and the stakes are huge for Everton’s future.
There was also an outpouring of anger from fans of other clubs. Most of it paid lip-service to
Everton’s predicament and then used the issue as a stick to beat City with.
I also get that. Football is a tribal business at the best of times and fans will always jump on the chance to give rival clubs some stick.
But I also understand why there is such a clamour to have the City case dealt with sooner rather than later.
And, in my opinion, even Manchester City fans should be looking for the process to be fast-tracked as quickly as possible. Why? Well, dirt can be difficult to wipe clean. Do City fans really want to continue to support their team under this shadow of suspicion? They have been given so many memories to cherish in the last decade or so, from Sergio Aguero’s goal to completing the Treble in Istanbul last season.
Surely they want to see due process take its course as quickly as possible, so that their club can face the consequences for any wrongdoing or have their reputation restored?
The Everton and City cases are completely different. And let’s not forget that Chelsea are now back in the dock.
But what I will say is that the Premier League have set a benchmark with the punishment that’s been handed down to Everton.
There’s no going back for them now.