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I must say I was astonished to hear the top man at the Premier League say this week that a date has been set for the commission hearing into Manchester City’s 115 charges over breaching spending rules — but he won’t tell us what it is.
I heard some waffle about the need for confidentiality. Well, I’m sorry, but I happen to believe the reputation and credibility of the Premier League and our football matter a great deal more.
Make no mistake, the Premier League’s reputation is being dragged through the gutter by our game’s apparent inability to govern itself. City should have been before the commission long ago to answer for themselves.
The City case is more complex than those of Everton and Nottingham Forest, but the Premier League’s investigation of those alleged crimes began five years ago. Are you seriously telling me that for all that time these charges have been out there, yet they can’t get them into court to test City’s innocence or guilt?
Richard Masters revealed that a date has been set for Manchester City’s hearing but would not say when
The Premier League champions Manchester City are facing 115 charges for financial breaches
Mail Sport’s Graeme Souness argues that a resolution needs to found sooner rather than later
I was struck by a discussion of the issue with one of City’s former finance advisers, Stefan Borson, who said on talkSPORT that City would be relegated if convicted.
We really are talking about potentially one of the biggest stories British football has known. It has become a dark cloud hovering over our game.
There are plenty of envious football administrators and fans, in countries like Spain, Germany and Italy, who will hate the way the Premier League has eclipsed their game. Those countries are looking for a stick to beat us with. By failing to govern ourselves, we are giving them one.
I assure you some European clubs will be licking their lips — especially those which have been thwarted in their efforts to launch a Super League and win back revenues lost to the Premier League.
If you’re involved in the Premier League, surely you want to bring this to a point where City are acquitted or found guilty? Surely you want to be seen as a body capable of ensuring your member clubs are operating within the rule book?
I believe City have a responsibility to help bring this to a head, once and for all. From the outside looking in, this would just appear to be a group of their lawyers kicking the can down the road and hoping the problem diminishes or just goes away.
I recall that when UEFA imposed a two-year Champions League ban on City in 2020, it was revealed that one of the club’s executives had said he would be happy for the club to spend £30million on the 50 best lawyers in the world for the next 10 years.
City appealed, won and were reinstated in the Champions League — because the judges ruled the charges had been made years too late.
A conviction for Manchester City would tarnish the reputation of the Premier League unimaginably
Nottingham Forest and Everton were both earlier this week found to have breached financial regulations
These 115 charges relate to the Premier League’s sustainability rules. Are City approaching this with the same tactics they used when UEFA charged them?
They have the deepest pockets of all and can pay the best lawyers for however long it takes. If you’re innocent, why the need to drag things out and keep kicking that can? Surely it’s in City’s interests to resolve this?
I really hope we find the club are not guilty. We have seen some of the most beautiful football from them in recent years. It would be terrible to see a stain on that achievement.
If they are convicted, it would tarnish our Premier League unimaginably. It is simply too big an issue to let anyone drag it out.
For the sake of the Premier League and English football as a whole, let’s get it dealt with and stop pussy-footing around. It needs confronting now.
IT’S NOW OR NEVER FOR TONEY
I can understand why Ivan Toney is openly declaring he wants to move to a big club now.
He’s had to travel down the road a bit in football and wasn’t an instant success. Newcastle had him out on loan for three years. He’s had to work at establishing himself.
He’s 27 — at the peak of his powers for a striker — and it’s now or never for him. You might say Brentford have looked after him during his ban but they will also get a shedload of money for him.
I really can’t see them standing in his way — even allowing for their challenging season and the injuries they have. He could be the missing piece for Arsenal or Chelsea, who both need a different type of attacker.
Ivan Toney has had to travel down the road a bit in football but he is now in the prime of his career
TAKE HENDERSON’S EXIT WITH A PINCH OF SALT
I would take a lot of what you’re reading about Jordan Henderson’s departure from Saudi Arabia with a pinch of salt. You’re telling me he’s not received any money from the Saudis? Really?
He was never going to come back to the UK to play football because he would fall into the hands of HMRC and get clobbered.
Ajax are famous for developing young players and selling them for fortunes — not buying those who are coming to the end of their careers and paying them enormous money.
They’re trying to turn things around after a disastrous few years, which won’t be easy.
I don’t know Jordan but I imagine he’ll be a great presence among the young players in that dressing room.
Reports emerged that Jordan Henderson had not received a penny of his wages at Al-Ettifaq
Henderson has since signed for Eredivisie giants Ajax as he returns to European football
AN EVERTON REUNION 40 YEARS ON
This picture, of a reunion of some of the FA Cup-winning Everton team of 1984, was sent to me this week. It reminded me of all that Everton stand for.
These players helped form one of the best teams Everton ever had and they must be shaking their heads about what’s happening to the club — docked 10 points and now facing another possible deduction.
That Everton side was competitive, skilful and there was a togetherness shown by them
Liverpool played them in the 1984 Milk Cup final, drawing 0-0 at Wembley before we beat them 1-0 in the replay. They should have beaten us on a wet pitch at Wembley. They were better than us.
That was the start of their time being the top dogs in English football. Those lads were competitive, skilful and there was a togetherness which is shown by them still being pals and wanting to be in each other’s company 40 years later.
They weren’t like this every minute of every day, by the way. I can remember after one Liverpool game, I went to the Holiday Inn on Paradise Street in Liverpool with my wife for a drink.
I had to skirt around the perimeter of the reception area to avoid a brawl that was taking place. All the Everton players were getting stuck into each other. That’s proper team spirit!
