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Ex-Manchester City captain, Vincent Kompany has given his verdict on the charges facing Manchester City at the moment in relation to their finances. On Monday, the Premier League announced that they were charging the club for breaking financial fair play rules over 100 times over a nine-year period.
While the club have denied any wrongdoing, an independent panel will now decide what sanctions to impose on the club although this decision could take years to come to fruition. At worst, the club could face a hefty points deduction or even expulsion from the Premier League.
Kompany, now the Burnley manager, has questioned whether the Premier League are in a position to start pointing fingers at others. Speaking to reporters ahead of his side’s FA Cup replay against Ipswich, Kompany said:
“I kind of look at it and sometimes roll my eyes a little bit. No doubt there’s a lot of righteousness in the world to come and tell you what you’ve done wrong, and then if everybody looks at themselves, I think the football industry in general is not one that can afford to point the finger too many times.
I think all of you will have a little bit of a smile on your face to know what the football industry is about. I’m very sceptical when people start pointing fingers. Do the best for yourself and let’s try and improve all the time but I’m a little bit sceptical when the fingers get pointed easily.”
Is Kompany’s legacy at risk?
During his eleven years at the club, Kompany picked up four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups. However, many of these triumphs came in seasons in which the club have been now been charged with breaking the law.
If Manchester City are found guilty of the charges they are facing then the club may end up getting some of its accolades rescinded. This would mean Kompany, and his teammates would get their winners’ medals taken off them. Kompany is considered to be one of the best Premier League players of the past decade so having his medals taken off him would surely hurt.
The Burnley boss has insisted, however, that he is too busy with his current job to get involved in the possible ramifications. He said:
“The fixtures actually help me because I’ve had no time to look into it or feel emotionally connected to what’s happening.”
Burnley are flying in the Championship and look certainties for promotion to the Premier League under Kompany who has transformed the way in which the club play. They are also now into the FA Cup 5th round after beating Ipswich last night.
Other PL clubs want City banished
According to SkySports, other Premier League clubs want Manchester City to face the severest punishment possible if they are found guilty of breaking the rules over nine consecutive years.
If City are to be expelled from the Premier League then the club may well cease to exist. The English Football League are not obliged to accept them into their leagues if they are banished from the Premier League meaning the club wouldn’t have a professional league to play in.
It is believed that other members of the Premier Leagues’s top six – Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea – are being particularly forceful in their desire to see City properly punished.
