Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, are currently facing 115 charges relating to alleged breaches of financial fair play (FFP) regulations.
These allegations have cast a shadow over the club’s dominance in English football, as rivals Everton and Nottingham Forest have already been hit with points deductions for violating similar Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). The severity of these charges has raised questions about potential penalties, with some speculating about point deductions, relegation, or even the stripping of previous league titles.
Peterborough chairman and EFL representative, Darragh MacAnthony, shared his thoughts on the situation during a recent interview with TalkSPORT.
MacAnthony, while uncertain about the exact consequences Manchester City might face, expressed doubt that any drastic action, such as relegation or title revocation, would occur.
He referenced the 2006 Calciopoli scandal in Italy, during which Juventus was stripped of a Serie A title for their involvement in match-fixing. However, MacAnthony believes such extreme measures are unlikely in this case.
MacAnthony commented, “I’m not sure what the policy is for such charges. I have no idea the penalty. What the historical precedence is is unknown to me. Two points per charge sounds right. The media will undoubtedly use headlines like ‘relegation,’ ‘banned,’ or ‘league titles from the past given back,’ all of which are ridiculous in my view.” While he acknowledged that such actions happened in Italy, he argued against retroactively altering Manchester City’s past achievements.
Furthermore, MacAnthony suggested that the football industry as a whole often operates in a grey area when it comes to financial regulations. He implied that clubs, including those in the Premier League, frequently attempt to “work around the system” to stay competitive. “Everyone in football seeks manipulation; let me speak for the EFL; Man City has not done this.
With all the pay limitations, restrictions, everything else, everyone tries to work around the system to sign players and make them as powerful as feasible,” he said. While MacAnthony stopped short of accusing anyone of breaking the rules, he noted that rule-bending is not uncommon in the sport and advised patience as the case unfolds.
In addition to the financial fair play allegations, MacAnthony touched on the potential impact these issues could have on Pep Guardiola’s future at Manchester City.
The club’s Catalan manager is in the final year of his contract, and speculation is growing over whether he will stay beyond this season. MacAnthony pointed out the toll that such relentless pressure can take on a manager, especially after years of sustained success. “I can’t speak for Pep, but I think he’s done six years, maybe more, which is probably a long old period for him,” MacAnthony said. He compared Guardiola’s situation to that of Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, suggesting that Guardiola may choose to take a break after another successful year.
MacAnthony proposed that Manchester City could consider giving Guardiola a sabbatical, allowing him to rest and recharge before returning. “If I were Man City, I would be like, ‘Pep, take a year off, we’ll place your second number two in charge for a year and you can come back after a good break.’ I would have done that with Jurgen [Klopp],” he added.
Looking ahead, Manchester City’s immediate focus will be on defending their Premier League title. The team is set to play pre-season friendlies against AC Milan, Barcelona, and Chelsea in the United States before kicking off their title defense on August 18 at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.
Despite the looming financial fair play charges, City will aim to continue their historic run of success, having won four consecutive Premier League titles.
