The major headline of the international break is Manchester City reportedly having been found guilty of most of the charges brought against them by the Premier League.
A former player for both Everton, who received serious penalties for financial fair play breaches, and City, whose punishment should the verdicts stand is now the major talking point in the game, says they feel they are viewing the situation from multiple perspectives. Having also played for Rangers, who in 2012 essentially re-formed and entered the Scottish Third Division after their own financial crisis, there is another layer to their thoughts on the news and what should happen next.
Complex case and who is responsible
The former player says they do not know enough about the intricacies of a complex case that has taken years to reach this point to dive headfirst into what an appropriate punishment would be and the various repercussions of any sanction that could be handed to City. But they say what feels important is for it to be remembered that the supporters and players of the club are not responsible for this, and that they will be hurting too.
On the part of the players, they will have known nothing about what was happening above them. They will have been well paid, but their influence played out on the football pitch, as 11 men against 11 men, with both sides trying their best. They would have had the confidence created by being surrounded by some of the brightest talent in the world and been aware their squad was expensively assembled to compete for the biggest prizes, but they would not have known had they had a helping hand in the corridors of power behind the scenes.
Supporters and behind-the-scenes staff
Nor would the supporters, as they got to see their club rise to prominence. The former player says fans are football, and the game is so loved because fans play such a big role in it. Owners come and go, but loyal supporters remain, whatever happens. Their thoughts are with the fans as they try to come to terms with what the outcome of this case will mean for them and their pride and memories of so many incredible occasions over the period in question.
There are also the people who work so hard behind the scenes to help a club come together to enjoy success - the people you don't typically see, such as chefs, cleaners, secretaries and training ground staff, who make things as smooth as possible for the players to go out and express themselves. All of these people will now find the value of what they did undermined.
Impact on other clubs and final hope
This is not to say the former player does not feel for the supporters, wider staff and players of clubs who may have missed out if the allegations of wrongdoing against City are upheld. They could have lost their own life-changing memories through this, and that is awful. But whatever happens next, the hope is that if and when punishments and sanctions are meted out, it is those who were truly responsible who feel the consequences of their actions, not those acting in good faith far beneath them.
