Andy Gray is certain that Manchester City will receive a “huge” points deduction and that the only result of the Premier League’s upcoming trial will be a guilty decision. City, the defending champions who have won five of the last six Premier League championships, are anticipating a fierce legal battle later this year.
Manchester City’s ascent to the top of English football has come under scrutiny since the Premier League accused them of breaking financial regulations over 100 times in a ten-year period, and they are already in the middle of their second season.
While other financial matters may have been resolved in the 2023–2024 season, City’s own major problems have not been addressed.
However, Pep Guardiola expressed his opinions prior to the team’s Saturday home game against Ipswich. “I’m happy that it starts soon and hopefully it will finish soon, for the benefit of all of us, especially the club but also other Premier League clubs and all the people who don’t wait for the sentence,” said the manager.
“I wish, from deep in my heart, go to the trial, the independent panel – and I say again, independent panel – and as soon as possible release what happened and we will accept like always we have done.” Guardiola continued, saying he did not think the wait would affect his team.
“No, we have been talking about that for three or four years,” he continued. We accept that it will occur and keep our attention on our matches.
However, Mikael Silvestre, a former defender for Manchester United and Arsenal, sees only one possible conclusion. On beIN Sport, the Frenchman stated, “He knows what’s coming.” “The loss of points. My thought was, “We can start the season as soon as we have the points deduction.”
Presenter Richard Keys of beIN and Gray discussed the subject and outlined the current state of affairs. Everything they said is brought to you here by football.london:
Andy Gray They say they’ll start it “soon.” Do you know the date?
Richard Keys: It will happen soon.
AG: At the start of the upcoming year.
RK: January of the following year.
AG: That’s exactly what I mean. January of the following year will bring some form of resolution from the impartial panel. Yes, the times are very different now. They have largely disregarded it.
Guardiola hasn’t offered any advice on how to resolve this and satisfy everyone, so it’s high time we did. I’ve never heard him say those things about it before.
What will take place? I’m guessing it will be something like a significant deduction in points, though I’m not sure.
RK: If proven guilty, that is.
AG: A guilty verdict is imminent. They won’t be found guilty of any of the 115 charges against them.
RK: Well, rather than the more serious charges, they may have been guilty of some of the lesser ones.
AG: I believe we both understand that, well, if there wasn’t any evidence circling them that suggested they might be guilty, they wouldn’t be facing charges without the independent tribunal. Okay, so perhaps they are not guilty of all 115, but that should have been discovered years ago.
RK: Then, why do we believe that they have run for such a long time? After hiding for a while, they are suddenly very eager to come forward.
On behalf of Manchester City supporters, let me say that this should have happened a long time ago because, up until this point, every victory during that time has been accompanied by an asterisk.
AG: But how will that impact them? Will anything change what they have already won in this judgement, Richard? You would know more about the legalities of this case than I do. Regardless of the ruling.
RK: Yes, in my opinion, if there is a ruling that raises questions about how the football team has operated during a successful phase of its existence. It is imperative to critically examine all they have accomplished during that period.
From a realist perspective, I agree with you and don’t think we’re skeptics; rather, I consider us to be more realists or cynics. The word is realism; after watching that, I come to the conclusion that he may have received some guidance from someone.
There’s no doubt that it is best resolved sooner rather than later. Don’t you also consider what has been gained, in the event that they are found guilty of improperly managing the club during that time?
AG: Certainly, but only if it can be determined that their potential guilt has impacted any titles they have won in the previous seven years.
RK: It had to have.
AG: Hmm, I’m not aware of that. I believe that’s a significant one for the Premier League and an impartial tribunal to conclude with…
https://x.com/beINSPORTS_EN/status/1827309426388132327
RK: Your logic doesn’t make sense to me. How can they leave that and conclude it’s not the case?
AG: I told you exactly this. If they find them guilty on any one of the 115 charges—financial irregularities, perhaps—what will happen?
AG: If they were to say, “Okay, we finally get you with a certain amount of charges, we’re going to dock you 40 points this season,” it would be easy for everyone—the Premier League, the tribunal—for this to end. It’s true that they will continue to remain in the top spot even if they receive a 40-point docket this season.
I’m assuming they won’t win the league, but they should still be in the league because they are talented enough to accept that.
RK: I concur. If that’s the case, and they’re found guilty of irregularities from the era of unheard-of success, we have to assume that the way the club was managed during that time may have prevented that from happening.
AG: Yeah, I believe it would demonstrate that. Do you really believe that, given what you know and the knowledge that those doing this are passing judgment on it?
RK: Andy, this panel is independent.
AG: Alright, I see. Are you genuinely of the opinion that they will then declare, “We will remove three or four titles”?
RK: That’s right, that’s right. I recognize. I’m here with you right now. Although I don’t think they’ll take away their league titles, I do believe that those of us who watch football would see their victories very differently if they were found to have committed irregularities during that time.
AG: That’s what I’m trying to convey. What can they do, since I doubt they’ll take away their title? They can now deduct points from them and fine them. Fining them? Who gives a damn. Manchester City can afford to pay the fine out of their own pockets, so they are free to impose as much of one as they like.
I see only a significant loss of points and a significantfine.
RK: Alright, let’s do as Guardiola suggests and let’s get over this conversation.
