Former England international Gary Neville has warned that the owners of Manchester City could face a serious challenge in maintaining their standing at the club if the Premier League’s decision on alleged financial misconduct remains in force after the appeal process. The club announced on Friday that it has filed a thorough appeal against the guilty verdict 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 critical juncture on Tuesday when the Premier League released its findings, stating that the club was "guilty of all charges related to serious breaches" of the league’s financial‑fair‑play rules. The governing body indicated that possible penalties could range from a monetary fine to a points deduction, and in the most extreme scenario, removal from the competition altogether. Neville, who also co‑owns EFL side Salford City, argued that the appropriate response should be a rigorous review of whether City’s owners satisfy the league’s owners’ and directors’ test.
He contended that the alleged infractions have "dragged English football through the mud" and that the integrity of the sport demands a firm reaction. "It is difficult to imagine how the Manchester City owners could meet the owners’ and directors’ test in this country if the guilty verdict stands," Neville said. "Because of the presence of unsuitable owners, the league has introduced stricter regulations.
It will be a real test for City’s owners to retain their status under those rules." He emphasized that football clubs are more than commercial enterprises; they are community assets that hold deep meaning for supporters and the cities they represent. "Owners must adhere to the rules and laws set out in the test because clubs are protected assets and community symbols," Neville added.
"The only sensible punishment is to first apply the owners’ and directors’ test, then examine the achievements during the period in question and decide whether they should still be recognised." Neville also suggested that, while fines and points deductions are part of the disciplinary toolbox, they are relatively minor compared with the broader implications for the sport. "If I were Manchester City, I would accept a fine or even a 60‑point deduction because those penalties would only affect the club temporarily," he explained. "Owning a football club in this country carries one of the greatest responsibilities imaginable, and it must be taken seriously." He warned that focusing solely on monetary penalties or point losses would miss the two most critical issues: the legitimacy of the club’s achievements during the period under scrutiny and the accountability of the owners and executives who oversaw that era.
"We cannot get sidetracked by fines and point deductions; we need to concentrate on whether the titles won were earned fairly and what happens to those who directed the club during that time," Neville asserted. The investigatory panel’s report found that Manchester City had artificially inflated its revenue by more than £900 million through what the league described as "sham" deals, effectively circumventing financial‑fair‑play regulations. This inflated income allowed the club to acquire some of the world’s top talent and dominate English football’s major competitions over the past decade and a half.
Neville expressed his disappointment that the Premier League, which he described as "our greatest export around the world," is now under a cloud because the most successful team of the last fifteen years faces accusations of winning titles inappropriately. "If the guilty verdict stands, the period will forever be tainted. The achievements themselves will be tarnished," he said. In summary, Neville’s stance is that the league should prioritize the owners’ and directors’ test and the integrity of the club’s historical successes over more superficial punishments.
He believes that only by addressing the root cause—questionable ownership and governance—can English football safeguard its reputation and ensure that clubs remain true community assets. The appeal process will determine whether Manchester City can retain its owners’ status, but the broader conversation about governance, transparency, and fairness in the sport is likely to continue regardless of the final ruling.