David Bernstein calls for forced relegation of Manchester City
When the independent commission announced its verdict on Tuesday evening that Manchester City was guilty of breaches of the Premier League's financial rules, former club boss David Bernstein immediately called for a forced relegation. He told the British broadcaster BBC that the club could not remain in the Premier League if the appeal fails. The demand comes only a few days after the conviction, which gives the team until Friday to appeal.
Financial Violations in Detail
The commission found that Manchester City allegedly entered into “phantom contracts” with business partners between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons to conceal financing of more than £830 million (about €969 million). Under former manager Pep Guardiola and chairman Khaldoon Khalifa Al‑Mubarak, the club had won numerous titles, but the new verdict threatens to eclipse those successes.
The former chairman, photographed by AP photographer Dave Thompson, made drastic remarks about the financial scandal of his beloved club. In his speech he stressed that the sanctions should not only involve money, because money meant little to the owners from Abu Dhabi. He also referred to the credibility of the Premier League, which, according to his statement, had found false documents and a particular pattern of behavior over several years.
Bernstein urges Man City board out as Premier League appeal looms
Reactions from Football and Political Circles
Even a former professional and the sports minister were stunned by the outcome. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane told ITV Sport that he would throw the club’s medals completely into the trash because it was fraud. Ferran Soriano, chief executive of Manchester City, called the verdict a “Premier League conspiracy theory.”
Bernstein, 83 years old, was chairman of the club from 1998 to 2003 and emphasized that he has been a fan for 70 years. He demanded a severe penalty that could remove the club from the Premier League, and pointed out that the Premier League itself had spoken about the misconduct.
Premier League says Manchester City broke rules for nine seasons
The city of Manchester and the fans are now awaiting the decision of the appeals body. Until Friday the club’s fate remains uncertain, while the debate over financial integrity in English football continues to gain momentum.