Gary Neville has called upon Manchester City to speed up their legal challenge against the 115 charges brought by the Premier League in order to prevent their reputation from being tainted.
City were charged with alleged financial malpractice back in February and punishment could mean expulsion from the Premier League. The champions deny any wrongdoing and have launched a legal challenge to try and clear their name.
But experts believe the process could take several years due to the complexity of the allegations, which date back to 2009/10. Neville believes it is in everybody’s interest to accelerate the proceedings because otherwise, the allegations will continue to hang over Pep Guardiola, who has won the title in five of the past six seasons.
He said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football: “First I want to deal with FFP – I have a real problem with FFP, I’ve had it for a long time. It was driven through by the established elite so that clubs like City and Chelsea couldn’t compete with them, so basically they could always pat them on the head and say ‘stay down’.
“No one ever complains about Jack Walker buying the league 30 years ago (with Blackburn). FFP wasn’t in at that point, but no one ever complains about that – and I think a new Jack Walker of any town should be able to drive their team forward. I like the idea that Sunderland one day could compete for the Champions League and the Premier League title again.
“But if under FFP you’re only allowed to spend the money that your income allows you, then you’ll always be maintained down there. So I don’t like the rule to start with, so I have some sympathy with City on that particular point.
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“However, if the rules are in place then you have to abide by them. There’s no doubt that for Manchester City, their owners and their executives, if some of the most serious of these charges were to be brought forward and they were to be found guilty of them, then the damage would be long lasting and it would be tainting.
“However, on the other side, I must mention, if the Premier League were not to see through these charges then the damage to their executive would be equally long-lasting. There is a massive pressure moment coming in the next couple of years. It’s something that really isn’t going to go away until it’s dealt with.
“I have to say if they can accelerate it forward – and we 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 like in a normal court. Let’s move it forward and try and get it closed as quickly as possible.”
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher agreed, adding: “Manchester City don’t want this, supporters don’t want it, the Premier League don’t want it. It’s not good when we’re talking about one of the best teams of all time in the Premier League – and manager – and there’s this asterisk above it until this is sorted out. My message to Manchester City would be: this needs to get sorted sooner rather than later, for your own reputation.
“There’s no doubt about it, if they’re found guilty of all this then everything would be tainted.”
