Richard Keys broke down the details of Manchester City's 115 FFP charges live on-air before their 2-0 win over Tottenham on Tuesday night.
The crucial victory, spearheaded by Erling Haaland's brace, lifted Pep Guardiola's side into pole position in the Premier League title race, two points clear of Arsenal ahead of their final league game of the season against West Ham.
But Keys told beIN Sports that he felt the potential top-flight success - which would be the club's fourth league title in a row - would be tainted by the ongoing financial investigation surrounding Man City.
Keys said: 'The problem remains, it all comes with an asterisk.'
He later read out the charges that Man City are facing: '54 failures to provide accurate financial information between 2009-10 to 2018. 14 failures to provide accurate details for player and manager payments. Five failures to comply with UEFA’s rules including Financial Fair Play 2013-14 to 17-18. Seven breaches of the Premier League’s PSR rules 2015, 16, 17, 18. 35 failures to co-operate with the Premier League’s investigations from December 2018 onwards – that’s the charge sheet.'
He believes that Man City fans would want the outcome of this process to be decided quickly, to properly celebrate their historic success if there is no wrongdoing, before adding: 'If they are found guilty, it dilutes everything they've done'.
Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer, who also appeared on beIN Sports' coverage, responded: 'My team have been hot on their heels. It does stick in your throat when you think how close we got to Man City and how many titles we could have won.
'Then you look at the circumstances where they have been able to spend what they want. They’ve had fantastic lawyers and even better accountants.'
Manchester City are awaiting the outcome of 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League at the start of 2023, for regulation breeches across 14 seasons from 2009-10 onwards.
The charges include claims over financial reporting, and a lack of co-operation with a Premier League investigation which was opened in 2018.
Premier League CEO Richard Masters said a trial date for Man City's case was set in January, but it has not yet been revealed when it would take place.
Mail Sport reported last year that the 'trial of the century' was pencilled in for late 2024, with a verdict not expected until at least the summer of 2025.
Manchester City deny any wrongdoing.
ksantos
431
Whatever the case Man City has built the greatest club in modern English Premier League Era with proper management of a club
veecmpsuz
156
these guys are always talking about what city spent…. it’s honestly pathetic. the other top teams have spent similar or more and since they don’t win titles nobody cares! city have been buying average 40m players and some dirt cheap players and turning them world class…. they pretend like we are PSG or Real Madrid buying premade stars for huge sums. total BS 😂
ciuabimsyz
115
If all this nonsense about FFP rules is anything to be considered true, then why all this delay? Remember, justice delay is justice denial. This is a clear mischief, a covert operations and a conspiracy against the best team ever in England. You can't deny the team they built, the football style they play on the pitch and the tactical fluidity Pep displays something never happened in England. All teams spend money and invest in players and break transfer records. And if they can go up to ten years back to probe City, why not do the same against United, Chelsea and other big spending teams? They are just HATERS! CRY OUT LOUD SO THAT WE HEAR YOU SOBBING 😭😭😭