Former Liverpool defender John Flanagan has jokingly asked when the club’s “bus parade” will take place in 2013-14 amid the Premier League’s charge of Manchester City over more than 100 alleged breaches of financial rules.
Former Liverpool defender John Flanagan has jokingly asked when Liverpool’s delayed title parade in 2013-14 might be after it was announced Manchester City had been charged with more than 100 alleged breaches of financial rules.
The Premier League announced on Monday morning that it had charged City with breaches of financial rules relating to the 2009-10 to 2017-18 season, with the club also facing charges covering the 2018-19 period to date of failure cooperate with the league’s investigation. They face charges of 113 offenses in total.
The case will now be referred to the Premier League’s – independent – judicial panel made up of various retired or working judges, lawyers and football administrators who will try the alleged breaches of the rules.
The news has led many to speculate as to exactly what will happen to City, with the view that the club’s punishment could be as severe as relegation – with retroactive points deducted for seasons in which they are alleged to have been in breach it was also set rules.
Taking to social media, Flanagan joked on Twitter: ‘When is the open top bus parade? 13/14, along with an emoji of a medal.
Jon Flanagan jokingly asked when Liverpool’s delayed title parade might be in 2013-14
Manchester City has been accused by the Premier League of breaching financial rules
Liverpool came very close to the bottom of the league, having led the league with just three games remaining before defeat at home to Chelsea and a draw away to Crystal Palace cost them the title – with Manuel Pellegrini’s City claiming the crown with two points.
It was City’s second Premier League title in three years, having taken over at Abu Dhabi in September 2008.
The season is perhaps most notable for Steven Gerrard slipping against Chelsea at Anfield, allowing Demba Ba to score for the visitors.
Flanagan arguably enjoyed his best season in English football that year, with the Liverpool youth product making just a handful more appearances for the club before playing for a host of others including Burnley, Bolton Wanderers and Rangers.
He announced his retirement from the game last October due to a recurring knee injury.
The 2013-14 season is most notable for Steven Gerrard’s slip-up against Chelsea – with Liverpool losing at Anfield late in the season.
Flanagan’s social media post came amid speculation that City could be kicked out of the Premier League altogether with the club facing a series of allegations the severity of which has never been seen in English football.
The Premier League divided the charges into five sub-sections in its announcement on Monday, with the first section alleging the club failed to give a “true and fair view” of its financial position.
While the second section alleges the club were not honest about their manager’s contracts between 2009-10 and 2012-13 – the four seasons Roberto Mancini was in charge.
There are also charges in this section for the 2010-11 to 2015-16 seasons relating to the club’s failure to include full details of player re-signing in contracts.
City were banned from European competition by UEFA in February 2020 for “serious breaches” of club licensing and financial fair play regulations. It was later overturned when they successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The Premier League, however, has accused the club of breaching the European governing body’s regulations between 2013-14 and 2017-18.
The latest two charges accuse the club of failing to comply with rules on profitability and sustainability, as well as a charge for each season dating back to 2018-19 for allegedly not cooperating with the four-year-old investigation.
City accused of breaching financial rules more than 100 times in nine seasons (Sheikh Mansour pictured talking to chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak)
If found guilty, Manchester City (pictured by Erling Haaland) could face points deduction or ban
City deny any wrongdoing and issued a statement on Monday saying they were “surprised” by the decision.
“Manchester City is surprised by the issuance of these alleged breaches of Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed material that has been provided to the EPL,” the club said in a statement.
“The club welcomes a review of this matter by an independent panel, to impartially consider the full body of irrefutable evidence that exists to support its position.
“Therefore, we look forward to ending this matter once and for all.”