Gareth Barry has said Manchester City must face punishment if the club's guilty verdict on Premier League financial charges is upheld. Barry made 175 appearances for City and holds the record for the most minutes played in Premier League history.
An independent commission ruled last month that City were guilty on 114 of the 115 financial charges brought against them, covering nine seasons from 2009/10 through 2017/18. The commission found the club had orchestrated systematic "sham" arrangements over nearly a decade to circumvent financial regulations and had obstructed the Premier League's investigation. City have denied the findings and lodged a formal appeal, which is ongoing.
Barry's stance on potential punishment
Speaking on All Out Football's In The Mixer, Barry said: "If the club have broken rules, then they have to get punished. It's natural, isn't it? The football world can't work properly if rules are in place and they're getting broken."
Barry, who joined City from Aston Villa in 2009 for £12m and left the Etihad Stadium in 2014, added: "Listen, this is the financial side of it (football). Other teams we've seen in other countries that broke rules… You're going to get punished. So the club possibly are going to get punished at some point."
Fans and the appeal process
The former midfielder said he wants a resolution sooner rather than later. "But I think as ex-players and especially as fans, you want it done quicker rather than later. It's just an awkward situation for everyone now, isn't it?"
Potential penalties could range from points deductions and fines to the retrospective stripping of titles if City's appeal fails. Barry's honours from that era, including the 2011 FA Cup and the 2011/12 Premier League title, could theoretically come under scrutiny.
Reflecting on his achievements
Asked how he reflects on his achievements during that period, Barry said: "I'd say it's more of a sad feeling, probably for the fans. I mean the moments [I had at City], they've already happened. These are the sort of things that are not going to be ever taken away. They happened 12, 13 years ago. These things happened when I joined the club, 2009, even earlier than that."
He added: "So I feel sorry for the fans, really. They're going to the games, getting songs sung about them and people calling them cheats. Players, fans, staff - there are decisions that you're not in control of. You don't know what's going on."
