Clutching at straws there comparing a rise in ticket prices to the 130 charges against City
talkSPORT presenter Adrian Durham has called for Manchester City's 130 charges for breaking financial rules to be dropped, arguing there are far worse things happening in football.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Fiery Fridays podcast, Durham said all City did was put money into a football club so they could sign players, entertain fans and be competitive. He said that when City were taken over, they were miles behind other clubs and had to rapidly play catch-up.
Durham pointed to what he sees as a double standard in how financial injections are viewed across football. He used Wrexham as an example, saying their owners injected abnormal amounts of money into a non-league club where there were no financial regulations, and were treated as heroes with a Hollywood story. But he argued their spending caused havoc with wage levels in the National League and lower EFL divisions. He also highlighted Leicester City, who were found guilty of FFP breaches during the 2013/14 Championship-winning season, a couple of years before their famous Premier League title. Durham said everyone forgets about that because it damages the narrative.
He then went further and listed five things he considers worse offences in football than City's charges. He named Liverpool raising ticket prices, Chelsea's owners showing no respect for fans, Arsenal's time-wasting killing entertainment, Burnley's lack of effort in seasons where they fight relegation, and VAR and the PGMOL spoiling fans' enjoyment.
Durham argued that City's money filters down into the game through their academy system, their women's team, and through transfer fees paid to other Premier League clubs. He said City have given significant money to Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Burnley this season alone through player purchases.
talkSPORT reporter Ben Jacobs provided a detailed update on where the case currently stands. The independent hearing finished in December 2024, but the written reasons are expected to run to thousands of pages. Both the Premier League and City have the right to appeal, and City as the defendant can insist everything remains confidential. There is even a possibility the case could be challenged outside of football's own legal structures, or alternatively the two parties could reach a settlement similar to Chelsea's.
Jacobs explained the case is far more complex than the FFP breaches dealt with at Everton, Forest and Leicester. Those cases involved straightforward profit and sustainability thresholds. City's charges cover alleged breaches over multiple years across different eras of financial regulation, involving claims such as payments being disguised through other companies connected to the club's ownership.
City deny all wrongdoing and have fought the charges from the start. According to Jacobs, if there is to be a punishment, it is not expected to be implemented this season. The range of possible outcomes includes fines, points deductions, transfer bans, asterisks on titles, or in theory expulsion from the Premier League, though the more extreme outcomes are not considered likely.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Fiery Fridays podcast, Durham said all City did was put money into a football club so they could sign players, entertain fans and be competitive. He said that when City were taken over, they were miles behind other clubs and had to rapidly play catch-up.
Durham pointed to what he sees as a double standard in how financial injections are viewed across football. He used Wrexham as an example, saying their owners injected abnormal amounts of money into a non-league club where there were no financial regulations, and were treated as heroes with a Hollywood story. But he argued their spending caused havoc with wage levels in the National League and lower EFL divisions. He also highlighted Leicester City, who were found guilty of FFP breaches during the 2013/14 Championship-winning season, a couple of years before their famous Premier League title. Durham said everyone forgets about that because it damages the narrative.
He then went further and listed five things he considers worse offences in football than City's charges. He named Liverpool raising ticket prices, Chelsea's owners showing no respect for fans, Arsenal's time-wasting killing entertainment, Burnley's lack of effort in seasons where they fight relegation, and VAR and the PGMOL spoiling fans' enjoyment.
Durham argued that City's money filters down into the game through their academy system, their women's team, and through transfer fees paid to other Premier League clubs. He said City have given significant money to Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Burnley this season alone through player purchases.
talkSPORT reporter Ben Jacobs provided a detailed update on where the case currently stands. The independent hearing finished in December 2024, but the written reasons are expected to run to thousands of pages. Both the Premier League and City have the right to appeal, and City as the defendant can insist everything remains confidential. There is even a possibility the case could be challenged outside of football's own legal structures, or alternatively the two parties could reach a settlement similar to Chelsea's.
Jacobs explained the case is far more complex than the FFP breaches dealt with at Everton, Forest and Leicester. Those cases involved straightforward profit and sustainability thresholds. City's charges cover alleged breaches over multiple years across different eras of financial regulation, involving claims such as payments being disguised through other companies connected to the club's ownership.
City deny all wrongdoing and have fought the charges from the start. According to Jacobs, if there is to be a punishment, it is not expected to be implemented this season. The range of possible outcomes includes fines, points deductions, transfer bans, asterisks on titles, or in theory expulsion from the Premier League, though the more extreme outcomes are not considered likely.
Comment