Richard Keys has shared his thoughts on the ongoing situation regarding Manchester City and the 130 charges brought against them by the Premier League. The former Sky Sports presenter believes that the club will ultimately avoid punishment, suggesting that the lack of criticism from pundits at Sky Sports is a telling sign of the likely outcome.
In February 2023, the Premier League announced a series of alleged breaches involving Manchester City, spanning from the 2009/10 season to the 2017/18 season. This period marked significant growth and success for the club, which has continued to thrive to this day. The charges primarily revolve around accusations of violating Financial Fair Play regulations.
Reports indicate that there are 130 potential breaches, with at least 54 of these categorized as failures to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information. Despite being found guilty of breaching UEFA’s financial fair play rules, which resulted in a €30 million fine and a two-year ban from European competitions—later overturned—Manchester City’s case with the Premier League remains unresolved.
As the results of the investigation are expected to be announced soon, with a verdict anticipated by late June, Keys is confident that the club will escape reprimand. He points to the behavior of Sky Sports pundits as a significant indicator of the situation. In his blog, he stated:
“I’m hearing we’re not far off from learning the outcome of the 130 charges City have faced. The smart money has got to be on a fudge. Why do I say that? Well – a number of reasons really.
“A big clue is Sky telling their pundits to go easy with their thoughts about the judgment. If City were going to be heavily penalized, I’m sure they’d be allowed to express their opinions freely, but I suspect their anger will have to be tempered.
“Just as the British government became involved in the decision to permit the Saudi takeover of Newcastle, it’s likely they have had some influence on the outcome of this case as well.”
In summary, Keys’ insights reflect his belief that Manchester City may avoid severe consequences as the charges against them continue to unfold, highlighting the complexities of the situation and the implications of external influences.