Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness believes Manchester City “would settle for a penalty” in their FFP case, but the saga could also “drag on for years”.
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Hearing into long-running case has begunSpeculation is rife regarding sanctionsCity have maintained innocence throughoutFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The hearing into supposed financial mismanagement at the Etihad Stadium is now well underway. Premier League champions City have between 115 and 130 charges hanging over their head, with an investigation into dealings on the blue half of Manchester turning the clock back to 2009.
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Speculation is rife regarding what happens next, with it suggested that City could face expulsion from the top flight – and potentially the Football League entirely – if found guilty of serious wrongdoing. The Blues are, however, adamant that they have done nothing wrong and continue to fight their corner.
WHAT FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE CEO SAID
A definitive ruling remains some way off, with Wyness telling of what could happen behind closed doors if City were to be offered a compromise sanction that removes a long-running distraction for all concerned: “I think the Premier League definitely want to get this over with and learn better lessons on how to regulate the game. Man City can’t keep fighting these battles. PR wise and from a global public image point of view, they know they’ve got to put this to bed. Everyone loves the football they’ve been playing, but there is a cloud looming over them.
“It’s in everyone’s interest to get this solved, it’s gone on for so long. But if there’s a settlement, there has to be a clear reason. It could be that both sides have got very good cases. I hope common sense will prevail. I think Man City would settle and take a penalty. I’d love to be a fly on the wall in these hearings. Nevertheless, it’s all going to come out in the wash – and hopefully it won’t drag on for years, as it may well do.”
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City’s case will drag on into 2025 and beyond if a ruling is passed that they deem unacceptable and subsequent appeals are lodged. For now, Pep Guardiola’s side are focused on chasing down a fifth-successive Premier League crown, alongside domestic cup and prestigious European honours.
