Manchester City have received a warning that the Premier League is prepared to ‘destroy’ the club after it was found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against it.
After a lengthy investigation, the eight-time Premier League champions could face an unprecedented penalty as a result of an independent commission’s findings – even though the club continues to maintain its innocence.
Duncan Castles, speaking to Nick Harris on The Transfers Podcast alongside FootballTransfers, has disclosed that the Premier League probably views this as a rare chance to warn any clubs thinking of breaking their rules – which bodes badly for City.
The respected journalist explained: “I see this as an opportunity for the Premier League, and why an opportunity?
“Under normal circumstances, they cannot investigate what each club does behind the scenes.
“Yes, they get to see their accounts. Yes, they get to see player contracts and manager contracts, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. But if a club decides to do what Manchester City have been found guilty of doing, the Premier League cannot know about it unless they make a mistake.
“Or someone like Rui Pinto comes along, obtains documentary evidence and places it in the public domain, it gets investigated, it gets prosecuted.
“So we know it can happen now. We know the Premier League can never possess the kind of investigative authority needed to stop it from happening themselves on a regular basis. Therefore, when you find the club guilty, you set down a message.
“Anyone who tries anything like this again, if you get caught, we will destroy you.”
In real terms, this could mean an immense punishment for City.
“What is interesting for me is a discussion I had with someone who’s, let’s say, been intimately involved at the Premier League since its initiation, and asked him what he thought would happen,” Castles said.
“And the guidance he gave me was, if City do not change their tack, if Abu Dhabi don’t change their tack, admit guilt and come to some compromise with the Premier League, the way the Premier League are looking at this, at the present is that they will be kicked out of the division.
“They would then have to apply for membership of the Football League. And his advice was that the Football League would not admit them at this time.”
