Former England defender Gary Neville has warned that the ownership group behind Manchester City could face a serious challenge to their standing at the club if the Premier League’s decision on alleged financial misconduct is upheld after the appeal process. The club announced on Friday that it has filed a thorough appeal against the guilty finding issued by an independent commission, which accused City of systematic breaches of financial regulations over a nine‑year span. Manchester City has consistently denied any wrongdoing throughout the protracted investigation that began in 2018. The case reached a pivotal moment on Tuesday when the Premier League released its final determination, stating that the club was "guilty of all charges related to serious breaches" of the league’s financial‑fair‑play rules.
The league has indicated that possible penalties could range from a substantial fine to a points deduction, and in the most extreme scenario, expulsion from the competition. Neville, who also co‑owns EFL side Salford City, argued that the appropriate response should focus on whether City’s owners meet the league’s owners’ and directors’ test, a set of vetting criteria designed to ensure that club proprietors are fit and proper persons.
He said the alleged misconduct has "dragged English football through the mud" and that the owners must be scrutinised under the regulatory framework. "It is difficult to see how the Manchester City owners could satisfy the owners’ and directors’ test if the guilty verdict remains in place," Neville said.
"Because of the presence of improper owners, the league has introduced stricter rules, and it will be a real challenge for them to retain their status under those conditions." He emphasized that football clubs are more than commercial enterprises; they are community assets that hold deep meaning for fans and the cities they represent. Consequently, owners are obliged to comply with the standards set out in the test. "The only appropriate punishment is to first apply the owners’ and directors’ test and then assess the achievements during the period in question to decide whether they should still stand," Neville added. Neville suggested that the most consequential actions for English football would be to focus on the owners’ compliance and the legitimacy of the club’s recent successes, rather than merely imposing fines or points deductions.
"If I were Manchester City, I would prefer a fine or a points deduction—even a 60‑point penalty—because that would only affect the club temporarily," he explained. "Owning a football club in this country is one of the greatest responsibilities you can have, and it must be taken seriously." He warned that the investigation panel had uncovered that City had artificially inflated its revenue by more than £900 million through what the league described as "sham" deals, effectively sidestepping financial‑fair‑play regulations. This inflated financial picture enabled the club to acquire some of the world’s top talent and dominate English football’s major trophies during the period in question. Neville lamented the damage to the Premier League’s global reputation, describing it as the league’s "greatest export" that is now being tarnished because the most successful team of the past 15 years is accused of winning titles through illicit means.
"If the guilty verdict stands, the achievements will forever be tainted," he said. "The period will be remembered as one of controversy, and the titles themselves will be viewed with suspicion." In summary, Neville’s stance is that the focus should shift from punitive financial measures to a thorough evaluation of the owners’ suitability and the authenticity of the club’s recent triumphs. By applying the owners’ and directors’ test and reassessing the honours won under the questionable financial regime, the league can ensure that the integrity of English football is upheld and that clubs remain true community assets.
The outcome of the appeal will therefore have far‑reaching implications, not only for Manchester City but for the credibility of the Premier League as a whole.