Martin Samuels, a respected journalist for The Times, has urged that the Premier League impose massive punishments on teams under investigation. Everton, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Leicester ‘may face expulsion’ from the Premier League. According to Samuels of The Times, the three newly promoted Premier League clubs might all be’safe’ from relegation before a ball is kicked, even if they end with 0 points! The reasoning behind this is that the four biggest offenders for breaking the financial sustainability regulations will face hefty points deductions, with three of them being relegated from the Premier League.
As Samuels points out, points deductions aren’t the only penalty available to the Premier League: “All have that threat over them: the possibility of points deductions or, worse, enormous sanctions, perhaps even banishment.” Manchester City, which is facing over 110 allegations, will begin fighting these charges in September, which is likely to outweigh the fines facing the other clubs in the news. Everton, at least, is working behind the scenes to resolve its debt, as acquisition discussions move forward.
As supporters, we see the Premier League Investigations as a double-edged sword, hoping against hope that our own club will not violate the regulations while secretly (or openly) hoping that the ‘worst’ transgressors, who have allegedly had billionaires pumping money into their club for decades, will face the consequences and be relegated to League Two.
Like everyone else, I am a lifelong WHU supporter who has held season tickets in the old BMU stand at Upton Park since 2003. Billy Bonds these days with my older son, and I’m impatiently waiting for my grandson to be old enough to initiate him before his mother snags him for Manchester United. All opinions are my own, highly prejudiced ones.
