Sky Sports Legend Advocates for Potential Relegation of Manchester City Amid Financial Fair Play Charges
Legendary former Sky Sports reporter Geoff Shreeves has sparked controversy by suggesting that Man City could face relegation from the Premier League if found guilty of financial fair play (FFP) breaches.
FFP Charges on Man City Could Get Them Relegation
City finds themselves embroiled in a legal battle after being hit with a staggering 115 charges of breaking FFP regulations spanning a nine-year period. While the verdict is not expected until at least 2025, Shreeves asserts that relegation could be on the cards for the perennial Premier League champions.
Speaking exclusively to Lucky Block, Shreeves drew a distinction between City’s charges and the profit and sustainability rules (PSR) breaches that saw Everton endure a 10-point deduction earlier this season, the most severe penalty ever imposed on a Premier League club.
Geoff Shreeves on Manchester City Situation
“The Everton and Manchester City charges are very different. You can’t compare the two directly, and Everton maintained open communication with the Premier League throughout their proceedings,” Shreeves explained.
Expressing scepticism about City’s legal timeline, Shreeves stated, “I think with Manchester City, it will come to court but not for two years at least. It’s a long, a long, long way down the road.”
Referring to the precedent set by Everton’s penalty, Shreeves contended,
“I don’t see that the Premier League would have any other option [than to relegate City if they are found guilty]. They’ve set a precedent with Everton with those points deductions. They primarily pushed for a 12-point deduction. So, it has to be a possibility [that City will be relegated]; it has to be.”
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Shreeves’ remarks come in the wake of reports from Football Insider indicating that an independent commission will convene later this year to address City’s charges. Allegations suggest that City violated FFP regulations between 2009 and 2018, a period during which they clinched the Premier League title three times.
As City’s legal saga unfolds, the football world awaits the outcome of this high-stakes battle, with the possibility of Premier League relegation looming ominously over the Manchester club.