Piers Morgan has called for Manchester City to be relegated and stripped of their 'fraudulently won titles' after the Premier League confirmed that an Independent Commission had found the club guilty of the majority of charges against them.
The outspoken broadcaster and Arsenal fan made his demand after City were found guilty of 'all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation'. The club's transgressions include 'sham' deals that helped to artificially inflate the club’s revenues by more than £900 million.
Club denies charges and plans appeal
The Premier League leaders strongly deny the charges and are expected to appeal the verdict before the deadline to do so on Friday October 2. Following the confirmation of City's guilt, the club suggested that they had 'irrefutable evidence' that they are innocent.
A statement read: "Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today."
"The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums."
Morgan calls for severe punishment
The Independent Commission will now have a further hearing to decide the sanctions City face, with a non-exhaustive list of punishments set out in the rules. Fines, points deductions and other sporting sanctions can be issued. Morgan was adamant about what he wants to see happen to Manchester City.
"IT'S OFFICIAL: The @premierleague confirms Manchester City are the biggest cheats in British football history," he posted on X. "Punishment must hurt: Relegate them, strip them of their fraudulently won titles + dock them 25pts for first 5 seasons if/when they get back in the Premier League."
Club CEO alleges conspiracy
City CEO Ferran Soriano told club staff that there was a 'Premier League conspiracy'. He believes that evidence was ignored. "This has gone for so long that it is important to remind ourselves that the whole Premier League case against us is based on a single false accusation - that the owners' personal money was somehow and secretly put into the club via some sponsors from Abu Dhabi. This is just not true," he said in a leaked video.
Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 charges of breaching Premier League financial regulations. The club's statement added: "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe."
