The Premier League released a statement detailing all the wrong-doings Manchester City have been found guilty of. The verdict and its extent came as no surprise, and the decision to continue fighting is remarkable.
Fighting the case
From what has been heard, City believe they have a case to fight. To everyone else, except Manchester City fans, it appears they do not.
It is about wealth, power, and arrogance. This is not just football but politics and governments, which should not be in football. Football is a sport.
Potential consequences
The club has enough money to fight forever, but a line must be drawn. When the government starts to talk, it is worrying, but the government has nothing to do with football. It is its own body.
If you have done wrong, you are bang to rights. Everyone knows that, except Manchester City fans, who will not accept it. The more that comes out, the worse it gets.
It has opened up a can of worms, with a domino effect on teams going down, losing titles, and Champions League qualification. If they are bang to rights, many dominoes will fall.
At this moment, they are not pleading guilty. It does not look good, and governing bodies must be strong. Whether owners stay, sell, or are made to leave is unknown.
Matchday and transfer implications
City will be up for the game at the weekend. Anfield will be electric, but they will be up for it, playing into the 'everyone's against us' angle. It is something to be wary of.
The rivalry from all clubs will go away, as everyone will want City beaten every game. True football fans will be anti-Man City.
Cody Gakpo could have joined City in the summer, but looks to have dodged a bullet. Agents will be licking their lips if City go down, as players like Erling Haaland won't play in lower divisions.
World-class players may move to Barcelona, Real Madrid, or PSG for the same money at a bigger club. Agents get more money by moving players on. If they have to sell, Haaland would be the first one wanted.
