United States manager Mauricio Pochettino has questioned the fairness of the Premier League following reports that Manchester City were found guilty of breaching most of the 115 financial charges brought against them.
Pochettino said the allegations had damaged confidence in the competition, arguing that clubs which complied with financial regulations may have been disadvantaged while others allegedly breached the rules.
He said, "We went through something where sporting fairness didn't exist. So, how do you repair everything that was damaged because of that, if it's true all of the 114 rules that were broken, we've lived through a period of deception."
The reported decision by an independent commission emerged on Friday, although the Premier League has yet to make an official announcement. Manchester City have denied the charges, while the club’s chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has expressed confidence in proving their innocence.
The charges relate to the period between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons, with the club also accused of failing to co-operate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to February 2023.
City have enjoyed sustained domestic and European success since their takeover by Abu Dhabi-based owners in 2008, winning multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Pochettino, who spent seven years managing Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in the Premier League, said any eventual punishment would not reverse the damage the allegations had caused to the competition’s credibility.
The potential sanctions reportedly include a points deduction, a substantial fine or expulsion from the Premier League. City are expected to challenge any eventual punishment, although no official sanction has been announced.
There have also been calls for the club to be stripped of titles won during the period under scrutiny.
Pochettino recently argued that Chelsea should lose the 2016/17 Premier League title following findings of historical financial rule breaches, suggesting that Tottenham, who finished second that season, should receive the trophy.
He also recalled Tottenham’s financial constraints during the construction of their stadium, when the club went 18 months without making a transfer, despite competing for major honours and reaching the Champions League semi-finals.
The Argentine questioned the consistency with which Premier League financial regulations had been enforced across clubs, saying the disparity raised concerns about sporting fairness.
The outcome of Manchester City’s case and any subsequent appeal could have significant implications for the club and the Premier League.
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