Found guilty of multiple financial offenses between 2009 and 2018 after a lengthy investigation by the Premier League, Manchester City finds itself at the heart of an unprecedented legal storm. While the Mancunian club immediately contested these conclusions and announced its intention to exhaust all avenues of appeal, the seriousness of the breaches identified raises the specter of particularly heavy sanctions, ranging from significant financial penalties to a withdrawal of points condemning them to inevitable relegation.
The announcement of this decision caused a huge outcry across British and European football. Many personalities, leaders and rival clubs have stepped up to denounce unfair competition prolonged over nearly a decade. Believing that the Cityzens’ sporting successes were built on the circumvention of financial fairness rules, several major players in football are now demanding exemplary reparations and uncompromising sporting sanctions. However, the Mancunian club was able to count on unexpected support this Tuesday.
Luis Enrique defends Manchester City
At a press conference, on the eve of the long-awaited clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City in the Champions League, Luis Enrique took the opposite view of this wave of indignation. Asked about the affair, the Parisian coach was keen to clearly show his support for the residents of the Etihad Stadium: “it’s a lot of noise around big clubs. We will have to wait for the final decision of the person who will decide this. We are waiting and I hope that everything ends well for Manchester City because everything that has been done on the pitch has been incredible. All the trophies they have won are deserved. We have to wait for those who decide.»
Relaunched on the impact of these revelations and on the failings accused of the English club, the Spanish technician reiterated his call for respect for procedures while saluting the sporting quality of the Mancunians during the decade which is being singled out: “it is a surprise, but we must respect the process and wait for the final decision of the authority in charge. If I only talk about football, from what I saw on the pitch, I think they deserved their trophy, I like what they offered on the pitch.» Statements which risk getting people talking in England.
