Sky Sports problem warning to pundits forward of Man City’s 115 prices verdict
Sky Sports have warned their top pundits to ‘stick to the facts’ in a memo released ahead of an expected verdict on Manchester City’s 115 financial charges
Sky Sports have warned their top pundits to ‘stick to the facts’ when the decision on the Manchester City’s financial charges is finally revealed.
A conclusion in the City case is anticipated imminently, despite other legal battles remaining ongoing, with the club refuting the 115 alleged violations of the Premier League‘s financial regulations. The legal tussle between City and the Premier League has ignited the emotions of football fans across all clubs, and Sky Sports have warned their pundits not to fuel the controversy with casual comments.
The Mail reports that bosses have sent a memo to pundits, including Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane, Liverpool veteran Jamie Carragher and former Manchester City star Micah Richards, instructing them not to make ‘snap judgements’ when the verdict is announced.
It is further noted that both the Premier League and Man City may claim some form of victory regardless of the case outcome, and an appeal to any potential punishment is likely.
Sky have also distributed a document detailing all the facts of the case for pundits and presenters to review, and insist that any on-air talent needs to allow themselves ‘sufficient time to digest the outcome’ before commenting. They encourage viewers to source their information from the journalists at Sky Sports News as the story unfolds, reports the Mirror.
Sky Sports aim to ensure they are reporting the story accurately and don’t want to generate any negative headlines due to one of their pundits making an incorrect comment.
City face a series of wide-ranging allegations, including failure to provide correct information on contracts, failing to provide accurate financial results and failing to co-operate with the Premier League’s investigation over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018. They have always denied any wrongdoing.
If they’re found guilty, the club could face penalties like fines, points deductions, and even the threat of being relegated.
Speaking about the imminent verdict, David Ornstein of The Athletic previously said: “The important point to say from City’s perspective is that they are totally confident that they will be exonerated and prove their innocence, so they’re operating as usual.
“We saw them do a lot of business in the January transfer window. None of that business, to my knowledge, was to pre-empt potential punishment because they don’t think they are going to be punished for these alleged breaches.
“In the contract negotiations they’ve been holding in recent years, the transfer talks that have taken place, no clauses have been inserted into those deals to say ‘if City are punished, this is going to happen’. Players want to join Manchester City and they are continuing with everything that they are doing.”
