David Bernstein, the former chairman of Manchester City, believes that financial penalties alone will not suffice if the club is found guilty on nearly all counts of Premier League financial regulations violations.
Speaking on Times Radio, he expressed his deep disappointment: “Honestly, I felt absolutely terrible—I was shocked yesterday. I suppose you invited me on the show because of my experience as chairman of City and the Football Association (FA), but fundamentally, I am a lifelong Manchester City fan—I have supported this club for 70 years.
It’s very sad that this magnificent era of success, which came after many years of hardship, is now being overshadowed in this way. It is especially painful for the wonderful supporters who have stood by the team through both good times and bad. I think this is a very difficult day for the blue half of Manchester.
I believe timing is crucial here. This entire process has already dragged on far too long. The appeal procedure needs to be swift because the club is forced to compete amid such uncertainty, which is simply unacceptable. The appeal cannot be prolonged for years; that would be a disaster—not only for this particular case but for English football as a whole. Deadlines are absolutely critical.
I cannot comment on what the punishment should be. If, after the appeal, the club is found guilty on all 115 charges, my beloved team will face very severe consequences. I can only say this: monetary fines alone will not be enough. Unfortunately, the measures will have to be much more drastic.”
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