Wenger defends Manchester City over FFP?

“All the Premier League teams want us to be sanctioned that is for sure“ said Pep Guardiola back in September and he is probably right. The huge amount of money brought in by the Saudi owners have been injected into Manchester City football club, and many believe, the league included, that they have done so by breaching the Financial Fair Play. Many clubs believe that it gave them the unfair advantage over them and expect them to be punished for the majority of those alleged 115 breaches, which could result in relegation and stripping of Premier League titles (just ask Jose Mourinho).

City and Premier League claim wins in an ongoing trial

So far, they have won the first battle (not related to those 115 breaches) as a panel of retired judges ruled some aspects of the Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules breach the Competition Act. The trial regarding the 115 charges will go on for months, but there is one person who thinks this has gone too far and is de facto siding with City – Arsene Wenger.

The French tactician was everything City was not – a modest, money-saving manager who managed wonders by buying teenagers for cheap or even bringinig free agents and making them stars, who then went on to sign big money contract to Manchester City. Nevertheless, Wenger is almost in line with the Citizens when it comes to FFP.

“I feel the rules of Financial Fair Play today have to be changed in the Premier League. Because they now face competition from other leagues, who have changed their Financial Fair Play rules. At the moment you cannot hear a club like Man City being charged by 115 different charges in a football season. I don't believe in that. The Premier League already lost a case, the first case against them. I don't know City, I can't judge them. I just think, 115 different charges against a football club today looks like we are in an international administration. Financial Fair Play rules have to be changed and made more simple. City owners came in and they had not faced any Financial Fair Play nor have Chelsea. Chelsea, they bought my players from Arsenal and Chelsea also bought what they wanted because there was no Financial Fair Play rules“ he said to BEin Sport.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 9

Friday

22.00: (3.10) Leicester (3.40) Nott.Forest (2.45)

Saturday

17.00: (1.95) Aston Villa (3.50) Bournemouth (3.90)

17.00: (1.75) Brentford (3.70) Ipswich (5.40)

17.00: (1.65) Brighton (3.80) Wolverhampton (5.40)

17.00: (1.12) Man.City (10.0) Southampton (16.0)

19.30: (2.85) Everton (3.35) Fulham (2.65)

Sunday

16.00: (1.80) Chelsea (3.70) Newcastle (4.40)

16.00: (4.30) Crystal Palace (3.60) Tottenham (1.85)

16.00: (3.05) West Ham (3.60) Man.Utd. (2.40)

18.30: (2.50) Arsenal (3.45) Liverpool (2.95)

***odds are subject to change***