FATE IN THE BALANCE Manchester City's reputation hangs in the balance as they await the verdict on 130 Premier League charges, with Jamie Carragher (pictured) urging swift resolution to avoid further reputational damage. Picture: Jean Catuffe / Jean Catuffe / DPPI via AFP
Image: Jean Catuffe / Jean Catuffe / DPPI via AFP
As Manchester City prepares to learn its fate in the outcome of the hearing into their 130 Premier League charges which have lingered over the last few years, former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher said whatever the verdict it came down to a matter of reputation.
The charges pertain to the seasons between 2009-10 and 2022-23 and encompass a diverse array of alleged violations, with the most severe being false accounting, specifically concerning the provision of precise financial information regarding revenue (including sponsorship revenue), related parties, and operating expenses.
It’s already meant that the Premier League has suffered reputational damage as a result.
The charges were first brought against City in February 2023, as the financial FairPlay practices in the English Premier League came to the fore.
The 47-year-old Carragher who is now a pundit for Sky Sports said: “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.”
Carragher has recently been in the news for claiming the Africa Cup of Nations is not a major tournament last month.
was talking about current Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah, and why he felt he wouldn’t win a Ballon d’Or award.
The Egyptian Salah routinely represents his nation at Afcon, while other stars like Kylian Mbappe play in the Euros. Though he was trying to get that point across, Carragher haphazardly gave his assessment of Afcon.
“I think the problem is the fact he's with Egypt, and he's probably not playing in the major tournament as such or maybe got a great chance of winning,” said Carragher.