Arsenal legend Ian Wright was left seething after Gary Neville claimed that Manchester City could go unpunished in their financial charges case with the Premier League
Arsenal legend Ian Wright could not believe Gary Neville’s suggestion that Manchester City could go unpunished in their financial battle with the Premier League. The former Manchester United defender claims there’s a possibility that Pep Guardiola’s side could be let off from their 115 charges.
Neville admitted that it was ‘ridiculous’ that there had been no outcome in proceedings, after City were charged back in February 2023. An independent panel investigated the case back December 2024, but there has been no outcome published from the hearing.
City were charged with financial rules breaches over a nine-year period, from 2009 until 2018, along with further charges relating to failing to co-operate with the Premier League’s investigation. The club have strenously denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking on The Overlap, Wright has hit out at the fact there’s been no outcome from the hearing. He said: “You’ve got to remember we’re (Arsenal are) chasing down a City side and we’re still talking about charges with them. ‘How have they got to this? How have they got to that?’
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“There’s still no outcome. We still don’t know an outcome and that’s the team we’re chasing down.”
Although City dropped points against Everton and Arsenal restored their place at the top of the Premier League, there’s still a possibility Pep Guardiola’s side could win the league.
Wright felt that the charges have had a bearing on the Premier League title race and transfer business in recent seasons. He feels that Arsenal are unable to construct their side in the same way that City have done in years gone by, even if the charges do not relate to recent seasons.
Neville pointed out previous charges brought against Everton and Nottingham Forest, and said: “It’ll come out in the wash at some point and it’s a disgrace that it’s taken so long. It’s absolutely shocking. Other clubs have been punished, but they could get off every single charge. I know you’ve gone quiet there but they could.”
“Really?” Wright replied. “Every single charge and we’re going to say ‘I can’t believe that happened but let’s get on with it’? It’s not like five or six. It’s 115! I feel like everybody is like Donald Trump here, nobody is listening. You’re saying stuff and it’s foolishness!”
“I’m with you, Wrighty,” Neville replied. “To have 115 serious allegations put against you and it not be brought forward is ridiculous. It’s a shocker.
“My point is – there is an old and important principle in this country of being innocent until proven guilty. My view would be that we haven’t found a level of guilt, or any guilt yet. I think those charges relate to pre-2020 but what you’re saying is that the foundations of the current team were built in that period.”
Wright said: “Absolutely. Players are signing because of the success they’ve had before, they want to have that success themselves.
“If they can prove everything is fine then brilliant, but I’m not going to sit here and watch my club struggle to beat this time that’s up there like Goliath with everything that’s going on.”
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