MusaHarry Redknapp has admitted that Manchester City’s guilty verdict on almost all of their Premier League financial charges represents a major moment for English football, while insisting that previous league results should not be rewritten.
Writing in his column for The Sun, Redknapp described the verdict as a staggering development and warned that its consequences could extend far beyond Manchester City.
“The guilty verdict handed to Manchester City on almost all of their Premier League charges is a staggering moment for football,” Redknapp wrote.
He added that it was difficult to comprehend the potential impact of the case and the number of people and clubs who could ultimately be affected.
The football world was shaken on Friday after it emerged that City had been found guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League financial regulations they were accused of breaching.
The verdict followed a four-year investigation into the club’s financial affairs covering the period between 2009 and 2018.
Although the exact punishment and timeline remain unclear, Manchester City are expected to appeal the verdict. The process could potentially continue for a considerable period.
A significant points deduction has been discussed as one possible punishment, while suggestions of relegation and substantial financial penalties have also emerged. However, City’s eventual sanction will not be known until the process is concluded.
The possible consequences have also raised questions about other clubs that competed against Manchester City during the period covered by the charges.
Tottenham are among those potentially affected, with Redknapp having managed Spurs during their battles with City for Champions League qualification in the early 2010s.
Tottenham narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification in successive seasons, finishing one place short in 2010/11 and 2011/12.
Redknapp acknowledged that he and Tottenham could feel they had been disadvantaged if Manchester City’s alleged financial breaches are ultimately proven to have influenced the competitive landscape.
“There are many people who will believe they have a legitimate claim for past wrongs to be corrected if City’s appeal fails, and I am one of them,” he said.
“During the period covered by these charges, I was managing Spurs and competing against Manchester City for Champions League places.
“In both the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons, we finished one place away from qualification.
“The second time, City won the title after Sergio Aguero’s famous goal on the final day. We finished fourth but still missed out on the Champions League because Chelsea won the competition and took the available place.
“Then, in May 2011, we lost 1-0 to Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City, allowing them to qualify for the Champions League for the first time and ending our hopes of reaching the competition.”
Redknapp believes it is impossible to know what might have happened if Manchester City had been operating under the same conditions as their rivals.
“Who knows what could have happened if those at the Etihad had been playing by the same rules as everyone else?” he continued.
“No one can say with certainty, but Tottenham supporters will certainly not be alone in feeling that they may have been disadvantaged during those seasons.”
Despite his own connection to Tottenham’s situation, however, Redknapp said he does not want the Premier League to reopen completed seasons and retrospectively change points, positions or titles.
He argued that doing so would create an enormous number of complications, with clubs at both ends of the table potentially making claims about how Manchester City’s results affected them.
“Champions League football across those two seasons could have changed so much for Spurs, but I have no interest in the Premier League going back and deducting points from those campaigns or taking titles away from City,” Redknapp explained.
“This entire process has been a long and complicated mess, and we are still nowhere near the end of it.
“Imagine the problems we would create if officials started going back and changing league tables that were settled many years ago.
“Where would you begin, and where would you stop? It would not only be clubs competing for titles or Champions League places who would be affected. Teams fighting relegation would also have arguments to make.”
Redknapp warned that reopening previous Premier League seasons could have serious consequences for the competition’s reputation internationally.
“Going back through all those previous seasons would cause incredible damage to a league that is regarded as the envy of football around the world,” he added.
“Manchester City obviously need to face punishment if they are ultimately found guilty, and there needs to be a meaningful consequence.
“But it makes far more sense for any punishment to apply to the years ahead.
“They should face a serious sanction when everything is finally concluded, but regardless of how wronged people may feel, going back and changing results from the past would be madness.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City have maintained their confidence in their position and indicated that they intend to continue fighting the case.
In a message to supporters, the club’s statement highlighted the strength of its belief that the legal process is not yet finished.
“I have been part of this club for 18 years,” the statement began.
“I have had the privilege of standing with you at the Etihad, Wembley and Istanbul. This club means a great deal to me, and you have repeatedly shown me just how much Manchester City means to you. That is why I am writing to you today.
“Following Friday’s media reports, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. I have done the same.
“What I told my family is simple: the Premier League process still has a long way to go, and our confidence and determination to prove the club’s innocence remain just as strong as they were when this process began.”
The statement also explained that Manchester City could not publicly disclose certain details because of the confidentiality surrounding the legal proceedings.
“There are many things I would like to share with you to explain why we remain so confident in our position. However, the strict confidentiality surrounding the legal process, and our commitment to respecting it, means I cannot do so at this stage.
“Even this letter has gone through several legal checks to ensure that it complies with those requirements.”
The club also urged supporters to consider its previous statements regarding the case rather than drawing conclusions from media coverage.
“I ask you to carefully read the statement below, which we issued on Friday, as well as the statement we released in February 2023. Every word matters, and those statements remain true.
“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions and there is considerable noise surrounding the situation, nothing has changed.
“We have faced difficult challenges together before and prevailed. There remain people who want to undermine the momentum of our club, but we will not give them that opportunity.”
The message ended by looking ahead to Manchester City’s upcoming fixtures, including a trip to Anfield and a Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium.
“We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break. We travel to Anfield in a fortnight before hosting Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.
“These are opportunities to celebrate the strength and unity of the Manchester City family.”
Musa
