Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher’s ‘sloppy’ and ‘asterisk’ view on Man City’s 115 fees
Manchester City are still awaiting the verdict of the independent commission into the 130 charges they now face, but Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have had their say throughout the process
Manchester City are anxiously waiting on the verdict of their alleged 130 charges hearing and numerous football personalities have weighed in.
Sky Sports analysts Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have been at the forefront, adding their voices to the ongoing discussion as the process nears its conclusion.
The reigning Premier League champions are still in the dark about the hearing’s outcome, with a range of potential consequences if they’re found guilty.
The club – who have always vehemently denied any wrongdoing – could face point deductions or even relegation, while a transfer ban is another possibility.
Football finance guru Kieran Maguire speculated on the Football on Trial: The Manchester City Charges podcast on BBC Radio 5 Live that “a points deduction would be the most likely outcome should the club be found guilty”.
He added: “As for the quantum of points deduction, if Everton were initially given a 10 points deduction for going around about £10/12 million over the limits in one particular season, I think, in order to set an example to the rest of football, it’s got to act as a deterrent.
“We’ll probably be looking at somewhere in the region of 60 to 100 points, which would effectively guarantee relegation out of the Premier League and into the lower tiers of football in the EFL.
However, City could still walk away unscathed, or receive a less harsh penalty. City have firmly rejected the accusations linked to purported violations of the Premier League’s financial regulations.
Amid Sky Sports urging pundits to avoid hasty conclusions, previous comments from Neville and Carragher have emerged, reports the Mirror.
Premier League’s ‘incompetent’ warning
“They’ve got a major fight on their hands, and there’s going to be a major loser here,” Neville remarked on Sky Sports back in February 2023.
“The Premier League are going to be found to be incompetent if they can’t land the charges.
“And obviously if they do land the charges on Manchester City then it’s going to obviously tarnish the last 10 years for many people – particularly clubs who’ve been fighting that sort of, if you like, fight against them.
“I come at it from two different ways – if they broke the rules they should get the book thrown at them and that will happen, but if they haven’t then the Premier League, four years it’s taken them.
“I’m a little bit nervous about the Premier League’s defence in the sense that this morning they’ve had six of the charges changed which is really sloppy having been investigating it for four years.
“This will play out for a few years, I have to say I don’t get angry about Manchester City and these charges over the last 10-15 years, because for me it’s just another thing that has happened in football.”
Neville asks City to speed up
Back in May 2023, Manchester City were gearing up to legally challenge the charges thrown at them over alleged breaches dating all the way back to 2009.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Neville said: “If the rules are in place then you have to abide by them,” after previously expressing some understanding for City’s stance on Financial Fair Play (FFP).
He warned of the severe repercussions for City’s top brass if found guilty of the more serious allegations: “There’s no doubt that for Manchester City, their owners and their executives.
“If some of the most serious of these charges were to be brought forward and they were to be found guilty of them, then the damage would be long lasting and it would be tainting.”
He also highlighted the potential fallout for the Premier League itself: “However, on the other side, I must mention, if the Premier League were not to see through these charges then the damage to their executive would be equally long-lasting.
“There is a massive pressure moment coming in the next couple of years. It’s something that really isn’t going to go away until it’s dealt with.” Neville urged for speed: “I have to say if they can accelerate it forward – and we need due process and law, you’ve got to let it take its course.
“But this is a sporting situation, it’s not a criminal situation like in a normal court. Let’s move it forward and try and get it closed as quickly as possible.”
Carragher’s ‘asterisk’ claim
On the same episode of Monday Night Football, Jamie Carragher didn’t hold back with his thoughts. “Manchester City don’t want this, supporters don’t want it, the Premier League don’t want it.
“It’s not good when we’re talking about one of the best teams of all time in the Premier League – and manager – and there’s this asterisk above it until this is sorted out,” he declared.
Carragher then sent a clear message to the club: “My message to Manchester City would be: this needs to get sorted sooner rather than later, for your own reputation. There’s no doubt about it, if they’re found guilty of all this then everything would be tainted.”
Relegation prediction
The chatter isn’t just on the TV; pundits are all over social media discussing Man City’s sticky situation. Back in October 2023, when Everton was eyeballing a points deduction, Carragher took to the web to speculate on City’s future.
“The [Premier League] want a 12-point deduction for Everton for one charge. Man City are going to end up in the National League North if the PL get their way!” he posted.
“Unbelievable the amount of stories that come out of Everton’s situation. But Man City’s, which has 114 more charges and gone on for much longer, has all gone very quiet.”
In the end, Everton got hit with a 10-point penalty in November, which was reduced to six after an appeal. They also lost another two points during the 2023-24 season due to a different Profit and Sustainability rule breach.
Carragher’s ‘shadow’ argument
“[City manager Pep] Guardiola should be celebrated for his genius by neutrals as well as City fans. But whether he and his club likes it or not, City will never escape the shadow of those allegations until they are dealt with.
“The years of legal wrangling still preventing the club from clearing its name,” Carragher penned in a Telegraph column just days before Guardiola’s squad secured the 2023-24 title.
“That is what baffles me about the whole sordid affair. When accusations are made against any individuals or institutions who have absolute certainty in their innocence, you would usually expect the demand of those involved to arrange a hearing at the earliest opportunity.
“Where is the statement from City expressing frustration or fury that the process is taking so long?”
“Kicking the can down the road means too many insults are being directed at a brilliant manager and his extraordinary team – none of whom will have a clue about how the club was operating in those years under suspicion.”
Neville has a transfer theory
Manchester City were notably subdued in the summer 2024 transfer window. By mid-August, Savinho was the only senior player to join, leading Neville to theorise that the ongoing allegations might have influenced the club’s transfer activity.
“Last night it was announced that Manchester City’s hearing will start in four weeks. I wonder if they’re not signing anybody on purpose, thinking they might get the book thrown at them,” Neville speculated on the Stick to Football podcast.
“If they think they’re going to get found guilty, and something ridiculous happens, they get relegated or deducted 20 points, they might think what is the point of signing players now. They got £82million for [Julian] Alvarez, and they might just see what happens.”
Despite no verdict being reached before the winter transfer window, City did splash the cash in January and February.
However, City’s decision to fork out more than £150m on Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez could have been driven by their dire struggles on the pitch.
