Former England international, Darren Bent has called for Manchester City to be relegated to EFL League Two and hit with a six-year transfer ban if found guilty of their 115 alleged financial breaches.
Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland striker insisted that severe punishment is necessary to serve as a proper deterrent across English football.“City should be relegated to League Two, just like Rangers, and handed a six-year transfer ban,” Darren Bent said.
Bent drew parallels to Scottish club Rangers, who were demoted to the bottom tier of Scottish football in 2012 following financial liquidation.Manchester City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023 with 115 alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations spanning from 2009 to 2018. The club has consistently denied all allegations of financial misconduct.
The Premier League champions face a wide spectrum of potential sanctions if found guilty, ranging from financial penalties and points deductions to expulsion from the top flight. However, sports legal analysts note that demotion to the fourth tier combined with a multi-year transfer ban would be an unprecedented disciplinary measure in English football history.
In response to ongoing proceedings, Manchester City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak addressed an open letter to supporters emphasizing the club’s position and confidence:
“I have been part of this club for 18 years. I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul. This club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again – how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today. “Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.
“There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies.
“I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023 (also below). Every word matters and holds true. “While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity.
“We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break. We travel to Anfield in a fortnight, and then host Paris St Germain in the Champions League back at Etihad Stadium – moments that give us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family.”