Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has dismissed fabricated quotes attributed to him about Manchester City's Premier League case. The false comments, which appeared on Facebook, suggested the former striker called for the club's titles to be stripped following the verdict in their legal battle with the Premier League.
The 49-year-old hit out at the claims and reiterated that he has not spoken to anyone about the recent revelations surrounding the case of alleged top-flight financial breaches. Henry is the latest victim of a social media trend for engagement that has seen prominent sporting figures falsely claimed to have commented on high-profile events.
Henry's Response
Bogus quotes attributed to Henry quickly spread across Facebook, prompting the 49-year-old to set the record straight. He said: "Fake news. I haven't spoken to anyone about Manchester City. Stop inventing stories."
Henry is the latest to hit out after CBS Sports colleague Jamie Carragher also saw his name linked to made-up quotes, hitting out at claims he supposedly made on former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo in July after their World Cup exit.
City's Statement
City issued a statement on Friday, which read: "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC's position remains consistent with the club's statement of February 2023. The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence."
On Friday, reports of the ruling in the case began to surface in the press. They came after an investigation into the club following the leak of financial documents in 2018, concerning alleged violations of top-flight rules between 2009 and 2018.
Sanctions and Challenge
The Times reported on Monday that the Premier League will put forward recommendations to an independent commission regarding the sanctions City should face. The club are anticipated to challenge the verdict, with proceedings expected to drag on for a substantial period.
A three-person panel will convene a hearing to determine what penalties will be handed down to the club, with the hearing scheduled to run for several weeks. Among the potential punishments, it has been suggested that the Premier League could pursue a significant points deduction that could realistically result in relegation given the seriousness of the breaches.
