Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said Manchester City’s reported guilty findings over Premier League financial rules would represent a serious blow to sporting fairness if confirmed.
An independent panel has reportedly found City guilty of all but one of 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, according to a soccer source cited by Reuters. Manchester City has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Pochettino, now coach of the United States men’s national team, said the case had already caused damage to the sport regardless of any eventual punishment.
“Whatever punishment (they choose), it’s impossible to turn back time. It’s done a lot of damage,” he told reporters on Monday.
“At the end of the day many clubs followed the rules and some didn’t … What are they going to do? An economic punishment? Docking points? It’s really hard. It’s sad.”
Pochettino said the situation had raised questions over sporting fairness during his time in the Premier League.
“At the end of the day, we went through something where sporting fairness didn’t exist … If it’s true all of the 114 rules that were broken, we’ve lived through a period of deception,” he said.
City could face sanctions ranging from fines and a points deduction to relegation if the reported findings are confirmed.
Pochettino also drew comparisons with Tottenham’s experience during his tenure, when the club went 18 months without making a transfer while dealing with the financial demands of building its new stadium.
“I think we were the only team in the history of the Premier League with 18 months without (making a transfer),” he said.
“They were so strict with us but also so lenient with others. Because of that, that’s why I say, it’s all very strange.”
Earlier this month, Pochettino had also said Chelsea should be stripped of their 2016-17 Premier League title and awarded to Tottenham following Chelsea’s record fine for rule breaches this year.
Manchester City did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment outside regular business hours.
Reuters
