Pochettino laments 'deception' as City found guilty of charges

Manchester City were found guilty of almost all of the 115 financial charges brought against them by the Premier League, and Mauricio Pochettino says the game has “lived through a period of deception”.

An independent panel ruled against City on a wide range of rule breaches, according to BBC Sport. The Athletic reported that 114 of the 115 charges were upheld. The first reports of the verdict emerged on 25 September.

Pochettino spoke with real feeling. “Whatever punishment [they choose], it’s impossible to turn back time,” he said. He also asked: “Where were the controls?” He said the case has “done a lot of damage”.

He knows this league well. The Argentine now manages the United States. He previously led Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in the Premier League.

The case stretches back a long way. City were charged in February 2023 after a four-year investigation. The accusations covered the seasons from 2009-10 to 2017-18. That period includes several title races that shaped how fans remember those years.

At the heart of it are financial rules, which require clubs to report income and spending honestly. City were also accused of failing to co-operate with Premier League investigators between December 2018 and February 2023. The case was then sent to an independent commission, a panel set up to decide disputes away from the league, for a private hearing that started in September 2024 and lasted about 12 weeks.

What happens next is still unclear. No punishment had been announced when the BBC reported the decision on 29 September. City plan to appeal, which means asking another body to review the ruling. After the first reports, the club said the process remains ongoing, according to Reuters.

Other clubs are watching closely. Sources told BBC Sport that several top-flight sides are taking legal advice over possible compensation claims. In plain terms, they are exploring whether they lost money because of results that now look different.

Pochettino has personal history here. Tottenham finished runners-up to Chelsea in 2016-17, a season inside the period examined. He has previously said that title should be taken from Chelsea and given to Spurs.

For fans, this leaves an uneasy feeling. Trophies were lifted. Parades were held. Those afternoons cannot be replayed, whatever a panel decides next.