da winzada777： Rio Ferdinand believes Premier League teams could go "nuts" when the verdict is announced on Manchester City's 115 financial charges.
da dobrowin： Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Man City charged with 115 FFP breachesClub argue they are innocentTrial expected to start later in 2024WHAT HAPPENED?
The 2023 treble winners were hit with over 100 financial fair play charges by the Premier League in February 2023 relating to a period between 2009-2018. An independent commission is slated to deliberate on the case later this year, although a verdict may not materialise until the following year, prolonging the uncertainty surrounding City's fate.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
This delay has allegedly sparked frustration among rival clubs, notably Everton and Nottingham Forest, who have already been docked points for breaching profitability and sustainability regulations this season. And Ferdinand speculated that the fallout would be massive if City emerged unscathed from the trial or escaped with a trivial punishment.
WHAT FERDINAND SAID
Speaking on his FIVE podcast, an impatient Ferdinand asked: "When is this going to get sorted out? Because everybody else’s cases seem to be getting sorted out mighty, mighty quick. Everton have had two dockings this season already this season. Nottingham Forest, all these teams are getting docked points. Manchester City’s are just… [pretends to thumb through pages].
"If I was those clubs, I’d be like, ‘let’s see what happens with City first’. But if they get nothing or a little slap on the list, I can see them going nuts. When I went to a court case about racism a few months ago, he had one charge. It took two-and-a-half years! They’ve got 115, it’s nuts!”
DID YOU KNOW?
The severity of the charges has raised speculation regarding the potential magnitude of the sanctions awaiting City. Suggestions range from hefty points deductions to the stripping of trophies, with relegation even mooted as a possible outcome.