Lisa Nandy uses Wigan Athletic as proof of why Manchester City fall-out needs to be right and proper
Lisa Nandy cited Wigan Athletic as the perfect example of why the 'integrity of the game must be upheld' in light of reports that Manchester City have been found guilt of all but one of the 115 charges relating to breaches of Premier League rules.
Lisa Nandy has had her say on the Manchester City 'guilty verdict' situationplaceholder image
Lisa Nandy has had her say on the Manchester City 'guilty verdict' situation | PA
Ms Nandy, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport - and MP for Wigan - insists Latics' recent off-field experiences have underlined the need more than ever for the rules to be applied 'fairly and consistently'.
"The football fans need to know that the rules are applied fairly and consistently,” she said on BBC Radio 5 Live. They need to know that they’re upheld and they need to know that the right decision has been reached.
"These are rules that the Premier League drew up itself because of concerns many years ago when clubs weren’t living within their means and that was having serious financial implications not just for individual clubs but the whole league.
"Not to overcomplicate it but these are quite complex rules that have been applied differently by different clubs.”
Ms Nandy was been instrumental in the setting up of the Football Governance Act, but accepts the City case is a matter for the Premier League to adjudicate.
"We have already taken action as a government to put football on a more secure and consistent footing,” she said.
"The introduction of the Football Governance Act and the establishment of a football regulator were not without controversy.
"But they were the right thing to do for fans because the regulator can look at the game as a whole, ensure the financial flow through the game is fair, keep football sustainable, and protect individual clubs as well.
"I’ll obviously look very closely at what comes out of this. But we can’t apply those rules for the Premier League.
"They’ve got to do it themselves and they’re going to have to resolve this as swiftly as possible for Manchester City - not just for City's sake, but for football's sake.
"It's not for the government to try and police all of the rules of football. Those rules are for the Premier League and are set by the Premier League themselves.
"Our job is to make sure that we uphold the integrity of the game and make sure fans are put at the centre, that we protect clubs from the sort of hell that my own club had to go through - Wigan Athletic - and we’ve already acted on that. We’ve wasted no time in doing so.”
She also sent a message to football owners up and down the pyramid.
"My message to all football investors is that we are grateful to you for investing in the game and we are grateful to you for the work that you do to help us sustain one of the sports that the UK is best at and brings joy to millions of people across the world,” she added.
“But you are custodians of the club and have a responsibility, not just to protect the clubs and hand them on in better shape but to hand the game on in better shape as well and to uphold those rules.”