In somewhat of a surprise, Arsene Wenger has come to the defence of Manchester City in their Financial Fair Play (FFP) battle with the Premier League.
The champions face more than 100 charges relating to alleged breaches of the league’s FFP rules between 2009 and 2018, with a hearing currently taking place behind closed doors.
A decision is not expected for several months, and Wenger believes the situation has gone too far, citing a need for change to the rules.
Speaking on beIN Sports’ coverage of the Champions League on Wednesday night, the former Arsenal boss said: “I feel the rules of Financial Fair Play today have to be changed in the Premier League. Because they now face competition from other leagues, who have changed their Financial Fair Play rules.”
'At the moment you cannot hear a club like Man City being charged by 115 different charges in a football season. I don't believe in that. The Premier League already lost a case, the first case against them. I don't know them [City], I can't judge them.”
“There was no financial fair play when they bought the club”
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) October 23, 2024
Arsene Wenger says FFP rules have to be changed in the Premier League. pic.twitter.com/sha5jz1FbX
“I just think, 115 different charges against a football club today looks like we are in an international administration. Financial Fair Play rules have to be changed and made more simple.”
The case Wenger claims the Premier League already “lost” to Manchester City relates to their battle over Associated Party Transactions (APTs), which saw some aspects of the rules deemed to breach the Competition Act, but the vast majority remain intact.
