Former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino says the Premier League has gone through a period of “deception” following Manchester City’s finding of guilt on the majority of financial rule charges brought against the club.
An independent commission found City guilty of a wide range of alleged financial breaches. Reports indicate that 114 of the 115 charges against the club were upheld.
The sanctions have yet to be announced, while Manchester City have indicated that they intend to appeal the decision.
The charges relate to the period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The club was also accused of failing to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation between December 2018 and February 2023.
Pochettino managed Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea during parts of the period covered by the charges. He says any punishment imposed on City will not reverse the impact the case may have had on other clubs.
“Whatever punishment they choose, it's impossible to turn back time,” Pochettino said.
“It's done a lot of damage. Many clubs followed the rules and some didn't.”
Pochettino questioned how the Premier League could address the consequences of the alleged breaches, given the length of time that has passed.
“It is a huge sadness. We get into a situation where what got celebrated wasn't that real,” he said.
“We went through something where sporting fairness didn't exist. So, how do you repair everything that was damaged because of that, if it's true all of the 114 rules that were broken, we've lived through a period of deception.”
Pochettino also questioned the effectiveness of the Premier League's financial controls and how they were applied to different clubs.
“Where were the controls? That's what gets my attention. Where were the controls?” he said.
Reflecting on his time at Tottenham, Pochettino recalled the financial restrictions the club faced while construction of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was under way.
He said Tottenham went 18 months without making a transfer while still competing for Premier League titles and reaching the latter stages of the Champions League.
“They were so strict with us but also so lenient with others. Because of that, that's why I say: it's all very strange,” Pochettino said.
Earlier this month, Pochettino also argued that Chelsea should lose the 2016-17 Premier League title following the club’s separate findings of historical rule breaches. He said the title should instead be awarded to Tottenham, who finished second that season.
Meanwhile, reports suggest several Premier League clubs are seeking legal advice over possible compensation claims following the Manchester City ruling.
Manchester City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023 after a four-year investigation. The case was subsequently referred to an independent commission, with a behind-closed-doors hearing beginning in September 2024 and lasting approximately 12 weeks.