Oliver Glasner is urging the Premier League to bring the Manchester City case to a swift conclusion. The Nottingham Forest manager believes the controversy is damaging the competition’s image around the world and putting supporters’ trust at stake.
Glasner said the proceedings should be completed “as soon as possible” to protect the league’s integrity. He fears fans may eventually turn away from the competition: in his view, if the public can no longer trust it, they will stop watching. He says the damage extends beyond England and that the issue is attracting considerable attention worldwide, particularly in Europe.
The concern follows an independent commission’s finding, last week, that Manchester City had breached financial rules over a nine-year period. The club has appealed the decision and denies wrongdoing. If the appeal fails, a panel could impose sporting sanctions, including expulsion from the league or points deductions.
Glasner acknowledged that the case must still run its course: “Let’s wait until the final verdict is spoken, but my wish is just that this is quick.” He pointed to Crystal Palace’s experience, when it was demoted from the Europa League last year following a decision related to Uefa’s multi-club ownership rules. That process, he explained, was delayed; the club ultimately received its verdict ten days before the Conference League began.
Manchester City has challenged the decision. In a statement, the club said the opinion contained, in its view, significant errors of law, principle and fact, and was unsafe.
In a separate statement, Emery said that the revelation of artificially inflated income at other clubs would also cause damage. A final decision in City’s case is still awaited.
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