According to English media outlet The Mirror, Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has commented on Manchester City's Premier League charges, stating that if Manchester City did indeed violate financial rules, such behavior "is no different from doping and winning an Olympic medal."
On Friday, news emerged that an independent commission is expected to uphold 114 of the 115 charges against Manchester City. Hull City owner Ilicali subsequently became the first Premier League club owner to publicly comment on the matter.
Ilicali stated that if Manchester City's appeal against the ruling ultimately fails, the punishment must be severe enough to deter other clubs from following suit.
Speaking on the "1904 Club" podcast, Ilicali said: "Manchester City's chairman says they are innocent. I won't say whether they are guilty or innocent, because they claim innocence while the Premier League believes they are not. If they truly have issues, then I think it's no different from doping and winning an Olympic medal. Ultimately, it's financial doping. Spending huge sums to bring in four or five top players while breaking the rules. From this perspective, it is not a positive thing."
Hull City was previously penalized by the English Football League (EFL) in 2025 for failing to make timely payments to other clubs and was placed under a transfer embargo for three transfer windows, one of which was later suspended.
Given that his own club has faced penalties, Ilicali hopes that if Manchester City is ultimately found guilty and the ruling stands after appeal, they will receive severe punishment commensurate with the seriousness of the offense.
Ilicali commented: "As a club owner, I shouldn't say too much about this because I don't know all the details and wasn't personally involved. Personally, I can only speak generally: if there is unfair behavior in football, it should be punished."
"If only a minor penalty is given, then everyone will do it. For the future of football and to keep football clean, if such a thing really happened, it should be punished, and people should not be allowed to continue doing similar things."
"I like the natural financial disparity in football. For us, we won't have the same budget as the top six or ten teams in the Premier League, but we respect that."
"Due to the normal revenues these clubs generate, there is already a sufficiently large financial gap between us and them. Please do not create an even larger gap with additional funds. The revenues these teams normally receive are already enough to create a disparity."
"If there is a violation, it's not an ordinary mistake like 'I made a mistake and then I can appeal.' If something like this truly happened, such behavior gives certain teams a huge advantage, which is unfair."
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Jieabkmpr
0
cry more 😂 if you like don't train your players , you can't win on the field of play you want to be gifted 3 point in court like a woman seeking for divorce money 😂 cry more 😂😭 😂
Go and get a life you jobless,useless numbskull Africa slum RAT🤪😹
Suarezzy
0
You’re the one crying coz he ain’t talked about laliga So tell us why you’re here crying over a team that doesn’t know your existence
cry more 😂 if you like don't train your players , you can't win on the field of play you want to be gifted 3 point in court like a woman seeking for divorce money 😂 cry more 😂😭 😂
Jieabkmpr
0
cry
You’re the one crying coz he ain’t talked about laliga So tell us why you’re here crying over a team that doesn’t know your existence
Jieabkmpr
0
cry
Sufferlona fan go and get a life you idiot We ain’t talk about your damn club So shut the fuck and stop being miserable
Suarezzy
0
Makes no sense that teams can spend based on earnings. Already creates an unfair advantage for top 6 teams, and Man City feel the need to cheat for more. Pathetic team. Everybody but Man City fans would love to see the harshest punishment ever given to an epl team. Man City were nothing several years ago and nobody noticed. We won’t notice or care if we never see them in the epl again.
cry
Kukeimopz
1
The owners themselves know their guilty cause they convinced pay their way out in any scenarios
hudabcdeop
0
Look who is talking now 😅🤣😂
Wamiklmsty
5
Makes no sense that teams can spend based on earnings. Already creates an unfair advantage for top 6 teams, and Man City feel the need to cheat for more. Pathetic team. Everybody but Man City fans would love to see the harshest punishment ever given to an epl team. Man City were nothing several years ago and nobody noticed. We won’t notice or care if we never see them in the epl again.
Litelntz
0
you right if but remember it's man city paves the way and Crack the super league trio lock in the epl that all teams can realised they has the same chances to stay up as the original mafia 3z
cadamnoy
0
Spanish people are moving forward while these English people are full hatred and Jealousy...it was long time since an EPL player won the ballon dor...but Man City Breaked the curse...even Arsenal never won a UCL....what do these people want....Watch how Yamal is winning it this year....
also for context, there were 5 PL clubs in a UCL final in the last 7 years while La Liga had 1 club. Bundesliga 2 and Serie A 1. So all of La Liga + Bundesliga + Serie A had 4 clubs in the final while PL alone had 5 different clubs.
cadamnoy
0
Spanish people are moving forward while these English people are full hatred and Jealousy...it was long time since an EPL player won the ballon dor...but Man City Breaked the curse...even Arsenal never won a UCL....what do these people want....Watch how Yamal is winning it this year....
do you even understand the context? richest country in the world is United States while the richest country by per capita is Singapore. I am not going to explain further to you. And also, Balon D'or is not the be all and end all of football. It's just an individual award. Like all people in a poor country cheering for their minister for being the richest.
Africaner
0
why don't you preach that to other leagues? Premier League is the most financially strong league in the world where even the promoted teans get 100M
Spanish people are moving forward while these English people are full hatred and Jealousy...it was long time since an EPL player won the ballon dor...but Man City Breaked the curse...even Arsenal never won a UCL....what do these people want....Watch how Yamal is winning it this year....
cadamnoy
1
Instead of financially upgrading small teams to increase league value and revenue, as well reducing reduce gap, they would prefer limiting big spenders?
why don't you preach that to other leagues? Premier League is the most financially strong league in the world where even the promoted teans get 100M
obrigado900
4
The man is right. If Man City are found guilty of these crimes, they should be made to pay dearly for it. This will deter clubs from doing such.
MUTAPE10
1
Instead of financially upgrading small teams to increase league value and revenue, as well reducing reduce gap, they would prefer limiting big spenders?
dapadklty
4
stripped them if those tittles and relegate them to league two
Emchi
3
God bless you.
Lidbeklruy
5
definitely true