Manchester City has been found guilty by an independent commission of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over a nine-season period
Paul Ince has offered his opinion
Paul Ince has offered his opinion(Image: Getty Images)
Former Liverpool skipper Paul Ince has called on the Premier League to set a precedent with Manchester City — should the club's appeal against the initial ruling prove unsuccessful.
The 10-time English champions have been found guilty by an independent panel of all accusations of substantial violations of the league's financial regulations over a nine-year span. City secured three Premier League crowns during the period it was being scrutinized, alongside one FA Cup and three League Cups.
Ince has a particularly keen interest, having witnessed his former sides, Liverpool and Manchester United, both denied titles by the Etihad Stadium club between 2009 and 2018. Additionally, his previous clubs, West Ham, Middlesbrough and Wolves, all endured relegation from the Premier League at different stages during the same timeframe.
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While Ince wishes to await the result of City's appeal before forming a definitive view, he maintains the club must face appropriate consequences if the initial judgment is upheld, urging that penalties be determined without delay.
"It's amazing, isn't it? Everyone's making these assumptions that they could be expelled from the Premier League, they could get a certain number of points deducted every year over a period of seasons," he told the Liverpool ECHO, speaking on behalf of Sky Bet. "But no-one's heard Manchester City's appeal yet. Manchester City are still saying they've got a defence.
"It's a guessing game at this moment. But how long is this going to carry on for? Because obviously they're going to put their case to the Premier League, they might come back again, they might appeal that.
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Manchester City is one of the Premier League's biggest clubs
Manchester City is one of the Premier League's biggest clubs(Image: Getty Images)
"It could go on for many months or years. I just want it done and dusted. Make the sanction quick, get on with the season and let's move forward. Whatever the outcome may be, let's try and do it as quickly as we possibly can. If the Premier League are going to kick them out, then it will be at the end of the season.
"I think they're going to get a points deduction, or they're going to get a fine, and a fine's going to be no concern anyway, because they're billionaires. That's not going to matter.
"You think about Manchester City not being in the Premier League (I know that's happened before, many, many years ago), from a commercial point of view, that would be a disaster.
"From a financial point of view, especially for TV broadcasters, that would be a disaster. You'd have 30-odd games that they won't be able to broadcast because Manchester City won't be in the league, so you've got to think about it from that point of view.
"There must be a deterrent, because if the deterrent or the sanction is not big enough, then it won't stop other clubs from doing it.
"But at the end of the day, when you're getting charged on 115 counts, you know you're talking about one of the biggest clubs in the world here.
"They must have done their homework, but it's what Manchester City come back with. What is their defence? Have they got a defence?"
"Obviously, they'll have the best lawyers in the business, so I'm more interested to see how they can try and get themselves out of this one."