Reacting to an independent commission finding Manchester City guilty of financial breaches, Ian Wright has demanded 'unprecedented punishment'
Ian Wright
Ian Wright pulled no punches in his assessment(Image: ITV)
Arsenal legend Ian Wright expressed sympathy for former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in the wake of Manchester City being found guilty of financial breaches, suggesting that the strain of competing against the club 'probably broke him'.
The Premier League confirmed in an official statement on Tuesday that City had been found guilty by an independent commission, three years after the club were first charged back in 2023.
Liverpool frequently went head-to-head with City for the Premier League title throughout Klopp's reign at Anfield before his exit in 2024, finishing as runners-up with more than 90 points on two separate occasions.
READ MORE: Thierry Henry makes Bradley Barcola comparison as Liverpool star told one area to improve
READ MORE: Bayern Munich chief rubs salt into Florian Wirtz wounds with Liverpool transfer reminder
In their statement, the Premier League outlined four grounds upon which City had been found guilty, prompting the club to release their own response, in which they continue to assert their innocence while expressing their "disappointment" and "surprise" at the verdict.
Wright, who first called for City to face sanctions when the story broke last week, has stood firmly by his position following the Premier League's latest announcement.
The former Arsenal striker also turned his attention to Liverpool, who are set to face City in their first Premier League match after the international break on October 11.
"It's cheating on an industrial scale. It's quite surreal seeing it written down like that," Wright told ITV Sport.
"The amount of stick I've taken off that. Unprecedented punishment is required here. It's a massive day for the Premier League. They've taken on a whole country, massive.
"Very messy. It's a problem for them to be going to Liverpool (in their next fixture). In their real time, Liverpool were the team chasing them down. Look at what Jurgen Klopp went through to break them - it probably broke him. It's so sad. It's probably going to get very litigious."
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp(Image: Sebastian Widmann - GES Sportfoto, Getty Images)
Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane echoed Wright's sentiments, explaining why he felt City warranted sanctions following the independent commission's conclusions.
"It's very damaging for the league, the brand is huge all over the world, but for them [City] to be caught cheating, they deserve that punishment," Keane stated.
"It's bittersweet. You deserve to be punished, but it's not good for the league. What about the players who have been part of the problem, new players, what happens now going forward?"
Content cannot be displayed without consent
City issued a statement on Tuesday evening which read: "Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission.
"The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.
"The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.
"The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.
Article continues below
"The Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete."