Mauricio Pochettino condemned Manchester City’s financial rule breaches, calling the Premier League’s handling of the case a period of deception as the club faces potential sanctions for 114 of 115 charges.
Mauricio Pochettino, US men’s national team head coach
US men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed dismay at Manchester City’s recent guilty verdict for 114 of 115 charges related to financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018, calling the situation a period of deception.
The Premier League’s independent panel upheld the majority of the charges, with City planning to appeal the decision. Pochettino, who managed Tottenham Hotspur from 2014 to 2019, questioned the consistency of financial controls, citing his own experience with strict regulations during Tottenham’s stadium construction. Where were the controls?
he asked in Spanish, referencing the club’s 18-month transfer freeze. “If a team like us was fighting for titles with those above us and every year in the top four, getting to the semi-finals of the Champions League without being able to do a transfer for 18 months, all because we needed to get used to the [Premier League financial controls]?”
Pochettino: Manchester City verdicts show fans ‘lived through an
The charges, which include falsifying financial details and violating Uefa’s financial fair play rules, were first investigated after a 2018 report by German outlet Der Spiegel. Manchester City has consistently denied the allegations, stating in a public statement that it was Manchester City
surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules. The club faces potential sanctions, including fines or point deductions, though it has yet to specify its appeal strategy. Pochettino acknowledged the difficulty of determining a fair punishment, noting that clubs like Nottingham Forest and Everton received varied penalties for similar violations. 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, as reported by ESPN. There are other clubs like Nottingham Forest or Everton that broke rules and received different sanctions, whether point deductions or fines.
Pochettino also criticized the Premier League’s enforcement of rules, questioning why Tottenham faced strict financial restrictions while City allegedly operated under looser measures. Why were those controls so strict with us and not as much with others?
he asked, according to ESPN. That’s why I say everything is very strange, and the problem is that everything gets clouded.
The former Tottenham manager highlighted his club’s 2016/17 campaign, when they finished second to Chelsea despite the latter’s subsequent financial rule violations. We should win one title, one Premier League,
he said, suggesting the league should have stripped Chelsea of its championship. They were punished, they admitted, so that’s it? The title should be for the team that was second.
Mauricio Pochettino on Man City charges
The verdict has reignited debates about the integrity of past competitions. Pochettino argued that the Premier League’s process remains severely damaged,
stating, If it’s true that they broke 114 rules, we have lived through a period of deceit.
He emphasized the difficulty of repairing the damage, noting, No type of punishment will make it possible to repair what was done.
The case also raises questions about the league’s timeline and transparency, as the investigation began in 2023 but traced violations back to 2009. An independent panel upheld 114 charges, though the Premier League’s process remains under review.
City’s legal battle is expected to extend for months, with the club’s appeal likely to be heard in the coming weeks. The outcome could reshape the league’s regulatory framework, as Pochettino urged the Premier League to ensure equality exists in the future.
He acknowledged the challenges of reversing past damage, stating, It’s done a lot of damage. Many clubs followed the rules and some didn’t. Maybe they thought that the punishment [wouldn’t come for a lot of years].
Mauricio Pochettino says Manchester City verdict reveals 'period of
Pochettino’s comments came during a press conference in St. Louis ahead of the U.S. men’s friendly against Chile on Tuesday. He reiterated his belief that the case causes astonishment given the magnitude of the verdict,
adding, It’s also fair to ask where the controls were for the rules to be broken like that.
The former Tottenham manager also recalled how his club prioritized stadium financing over transfers during the 2018 and 2019 windows, a period when City allegedly violated financial regulations. We went through something where sporting fairness didn’t exist,
he said. So, how do you repair everything that was damaged because of that?
The Premier League’s investigation, which began in 2023, has faced scrutiny over its timeline and transparency. Manchester City’s appeal will determine whether the verdict stands, but the case has already cast a shadow over the league’s credibility. As the legal battle unfolds, the debate over financial fairness in English football continues to intensify.
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Mauricio Pochettino