Manchester City's situation continues to twist and turn, with a guilty verdict from an independent panel putting the club at risk of sanctions for potential rule breaches
Gary Neville, co-owner of Salford City stands in the away end ahead of the Sky Bet League Two 2026/27 match between Rotherham United and Salford City
Gary Neville has been asking questions of Manchester City's situation(Image: (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images))
Gary Neville has raised two key questions about Manchester City's situation that he believes will unlock the answer to the guilty verdict the club was given in its legal battle with the Premier League.
It follows a long and drawn-out process, with the division's initial investigation into the club's financial reporting kickstarting in 2018, with the case covering 2009 until 2018. After five years of investigating, Man City was charged by the Premier League with 115 charges, which broadly covered alleged breaches of failing to report accurate financial data, possible breaches of financial rules, and failure to co-operate in the investigation process.
An independent panel was formed and looked over the case, and it took a few years to reach this point, where Man City has been found guilty of all but one of the charges levied by the Premier League. The club will appeal the decision, and still denies any wrongdoing, which could see the process drag on for longer.
Following the bombshell announcement from the Premier League, and Man City's response, questions are still being asked about the verdict, the appeal, and what could follow in terms of potential sanctions.
For Neville, the case can be unlocked by asking two clear questions. Speaking on Stick to Football, he said: "[Manchester] City fans have seen a hugely successful period. It has become a European and world giant in the last 10-15 years and has established itself in a different way.
"There are two simple things - how can Manchester City have more commercial revenue than Real Madrid? It is impossible. And the second thing - why would Roberto Mancini be getting paid nearly £2 million a year in Abu Dhabi for a few days' work - and £2 million in England for his job as Man City manager?
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Gary Neville, co-owner of Salford City celebrates in the away end as his team score a goal to make it 0-2 ahead of the Sky Bet League Two 2026/27 match between Rotherham United and Salford City
Gary Neville has discussed Manchester City's situation(Image: (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images))
"That just unlocks everything. I never thought we would see something as bad as this in English football."
It underlines just how tough the situation surrounding Man City has become, with the verdict answering just one concern about the outcome, with plenty more questions still arising from it.
With the right to appeal and the possible need for a sanctions panel after, the process is unlikely to yield any answers in the coming days, with another period of waiting on the horizon.
In the meantime, the Premier League teams will have to carry on with business as usual, despite the elephant in the room when it comes to competing with Man City in the weeks and months ahead.
Liverpool takes on the side next up at Anfield, following the international break, with the home crowd likely to ramp up the atmosphere even more than in recent years against their rivals, following years of competing against each other for the Premier League title.
It remains to be seen what will develop in the near future, but there are certainly more questions that answers at the moment surrounding Man City's case.