Pochettino says Manchester City verdict has left Premier League in a ‘period of deceit’

Mauricio Pochettino says the findings against Manchester City have left English football facing serious questions about sporting fairness, and warned that no punishment may be enough to repair the damage if the club is found to have broken the rules.

An independent commission has reportedly found Manchester City guilty of 114 of the 115 financial-rule charges brought against them. The allegations cover the period from 2009 to 2018.

The commission has not yet decided on sanctions. Manchester City are expected to appeal and continue to deny any wrongdoing.

Pochettino, who managed Tottenham and Chelsea before becoming United States head coach, said the scale of the verdict made it difficult to determine a punishment that would be fair.

“It’s very difficult when out of 115 charges you are found guilty of 114 to know what the punishment should be to make it fair,” he said.

The charges relate to alleged breaches across nine seasons, including financial reporting, payments to players and managers, UEFA financial regulations, Premier League profitability rules and cooperation with the investigation.

Pochettino also questioned why other Premier League clubs had received points deductions or fines for financial breaches, given the scale of the allegations against Manchester City.

“It’s a very difficult situation that causes astonishment given the magnitude of the verdict,” he said. “It’s also fair to ask where the controls were for the rules to be broken like that. That’s what catches my attention the most.”

He said the consequences could affect more than Manchester City’s eventual punishment, because the findings could change how previous achievements are viewed.

“It’s a very sad situation because what was already achieved and celebrated maybe wasn’t real, and what wasn’t so good could have been better,” Pochettino added.

‘A period where sporting justice did not exist’

Pochettino said the case had raised concerns about the credibility of the Premier League and the effectiveness of its regulations.

“We have lived through a period where sporting justice did not exist,” he said. “If the charges are proven, it’s very difficult to repair what happened. I hope that at least it serves to ensure equality exists in the future.”

He went further in describing the possible effect on the competition’s reputation.

“If it’s true that they broke 114 rules, we have lived through a period of deceit,” Pochettino said. “No type of punishment will make it possible to repair what was done, and the Premier League’s controls are severely damaged.”

The United States head coach also recalled Tottenham’s title battle with Chelsea during his time at the club, saying teams that followed the rules could feel particularly frustrated if rivals gained an advantage by breaching them.

“I said at the time, regarding Chelsea’s situation when we fought for the title with them while I was at Tottenham, that they were better because they got more points, but by breaking rules,” he said. “How do you repair that?”

Manchester City have said the Premier League process remains ongoing and indicated they will continue to challenge the findings through the appeal process.

The case could also lead to compensation claims from rival clubs. Possible sanctions include a fine, points deduction, suspension or expulsion from the Premier League, although no final punishment has been announced.