By Treasure Annett
Former Leeds United manager and current Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has called for Manchester City to face relegation following the club’s guilty verdict over 115 financial breaches.
Marsch said the Premier League champions should receive a severe punishment, insisting that concerns about Manchester City’s financial dealings were widely known within football.
“I think Man City should be punished severely. I think they should have to go down, and by the way, everyone knew about it. Everyone knew,” Marsch told The Guardian.
The Canadian national team coach also recalled Manchester City’s transfer activity during the summer of 2022, when he was in charge of Leeds United.
Leeds sold midfielder Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City for £45 million during that transfer window, while Brazilian winger Raphinha also left the club.
According to Marsch, Leeds and Manchester City were among the few Premier League clubs that reported making money during the period, although he stressed that their financial situations were very different.
“That summer, us and Man City were the only teams that said we made money. For us, we did make money, because we sold Raphinha, we sold Kalvin Phillips. We had a lot left over from what we bought,” he said.
Marsch said he was also surprised by Manchester City’s signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for a reported £52 million.
The former Leeds manager questioned how the club could complete such a high-profile transfer for that amount while remaining within financial regulations.
“When they said they got Erling Haaland for £52m, it’s like: ‘Yeah, OK, sure!’ So, I knew there were inconsistencies in it, but what can you do? You just put your arms in the air and go, ‘this is football’,” Marsch said.
Manchester City have appealed the independent commission’s findings and continue to contest the verdict.
The outcome of the appeal could determine whether the club faces sporting sanctions. Possible penalties could include a points deduction or, in the most serious scenario, relegation.
Marsch has now made his position clear, saying he believes relegation would be an appropriate punishment for Manchester City.
Credit: The Guardian
