By now it is well known that Manchester City’s hearing in front of an independent panel over 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules is set to get underway today. It is hard to avoid the topic, given that it has dominated the news headlines in recent days. Articles written about potential punishments and the ‘battle for football’s future‘ have become more frequent in recent days. But Manchester City’s hearing that is set to get underway today isn’t a battle for football’s future. It never has been. That’s been forgotten throughout the coverage of the saga.
Ever since the Premier League charges against Manchester City were announced it has been a topic that has dominated discussion. As Pep Guardiola’s side has dominated on the pitch, the topic of City’s case has been as frequently covered as Erling Haaland scores goals. Given the size of Manchester City as a club and the potential ramifications of the case that is understandable. But along the way it has become presumed that Manchester City are guilty. You only have to look at social media and some of the coverage of the case to see this. It’s long been forgotten that City have a right to defend the club’s name. That’s the first point. But now there appears to be another coming into the equation.
But now Manchester City’s case and coverage of it is morphing into something else entirely. ‘Football’s future’ isn’t at stake in Manchester City’s upcoming hearing. It never has been. This is a case of Manchester City defending their name and the Premier League believing City have breached the Premier League’s financial rules. That’s it. It’s nothing more. That’s all that is at stake during City’s hearing in front of an independent panel.
READ MORE: Has anyone considered the possibility that Manchester City could clear their name?
There’s an argument to be made that ‘football’s future’ was sold a long time ago. The creation of the Premier League could be seen as the moment that the game changed forever. That opinion depends on your point of view. You could also mount an argument that the Premier League clubs denying a support package for the EFL is another moment when ‘football’s soul’ was lost. That depends on your outlook as well. The ever-expanding football calendar as governing bodies chase a bigger slice of the lucrative television revenue on offer over player welfare could be classed as another moment when ‘football’s future’ changed. They look to be more pressing issues in the so called ‘battle for football’s future’.
Manchester City’s hearing in front of an independent panel over 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules will finally get underway today. It isn’t a moment too soon as the case needs a resolution so the game can move on. But it isn’t a battle for ‘football’s future’. It never has been. If the game changes after the case is resolved that will be legacy of the steps that got us to this point. Not one case being the tipping point in football’s future.
