Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have urged Manchester City and the Premier League to quickly resolve the champions’ Financial Fair Play charges.
City were crowned Premier League champions at the weekend for the fifth time in six seasons, with Pep Guardiola's team again proving to be the standout side in the division. However, City were charged by the Premier League in February over allegedly breaching its financial rules 115 times over the last 14 seasons.
The Etihad club have firmly denied any wrongdoing and have made it clear that they will take all available steps to defend themselves from the charges. They also say that they have irrefutable evidence to dispute the alleged rule breaches.
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However, there has been no timeframe specified for how long the process could take, and given the commission’s work will be private and confidential. And both Carragher and Neville believe it would be better if a swift resolution could be found.
“I’ve got a real problem with FFP, I’ve had it for a long time,” Neville said on Monday Night Football.
“It was driven through by the established elite so that clubs like City, clubs like Chelsea, couldn’t compete with them - basically they can always pat them on the head and say stay down there.
“No one ever complains about Jack Walker buying the league 30 years ago - FFP wasn’t in at that point - but no one ever complains about that. I think a new Jack Walker of any town should be able to drive their team - Sunderland, your team, Dave [Jones].
“I like the idea that Sunderland could one day compete for the Champions League and compete for the Premier League title, but under FFP you’re only allowed to spend the money that your revenue allows you, so you’ll always be maintained down there.
“I don’t like the rules to start, so I’ve got some sympathy with City on that point. However, if the rules are in place, you have to abide by them, and there is no doubt that for Manchester City - their owners and their executives - if some of these most serious charges of the 115 are to be brought forward and are to be proven guilty of them, the damage would be long-lasting and it would be tainting.
“However, on the other side I must mention that if the Premier League were to not actually see through these charges, the damage to their executives would be equally long-lasting as well. There is a massive pressure moment coming in the next couple of years and there is something that isn’t really going to go away until it is dealt with.
“I have to say if they can accelerate it forward - and you need due process and law, you’ve got to let it take its course - but this is a sporting situation, it’s not a criminal situation, so let’s move it forwards and try and get it closed as quickly as possible.”
Before Carragher said: “It is [concerning that it won’t be resolved any time soon] because Manchester City - and rightly so - have defended themselves.
“They said that they’re innocent of all charges, but if you’re innocent of all charges why do people keep saying they’re gonna kick the can down the road and this is gonna go on for two to four years?
“Manchester City don’t want this, Man City supporters don’t want this, the Premier League don’t want this. It’s not good when we’re talking about one of the greatest teams that we’ve seen of all time in the Premier League, and managers, that there’s this almost asterisk above it until this is sorted out.
“My message to Manchester City would be this needs to get sorted sooner rather than later, just for your own reputation. There’s no doubt about it, if Manchester City are guilty on this, all this that we’re talking about will be tainted.
“In terms of Pep Guardiola, other teams have spent more but to get to the point to entice Pep Guardiola - the best in class manager they could get - so he’s actually more important than buying Erling Haaland.
“They brought Pep Guardiola to the club on the back of these charges, so these need answering sooner rather than later and we can’t be waiting two to four years because that is just a mess for Man City, but also everyone else competing in the Premier League.”
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