Man City 115 charges: Keith Wyness hits out at points deduction blunder

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted all other FFP cases should have waited until after Man City’s case is finalised.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed the City charges should be split up into categories with hearings kicking off “as soon as possible”. Man City were hit with 115 charges by the Premier League in February 2023 for allegedly breaching financial rules over nine years.

Nevertheless, they are yet to face an independent commission – unlike Everton and Nottingham Forest, who were charged after City and handed points deductions for breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Potential punishments for Man City range from fines to points deductions or potential expulsion from the top flight.

Premier League have made big Man City blunder after points deduction issued, says Wyness

Wyness insisted Everton and Forest shouldn’t have been punished until City were dealt with.

He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “When I’ve been calling for this whole process to be expedited, that’s what I’ve felt was needed – a categorisation of these charges to speed up the process.

“However, if they’re so interlinked with each other – which could be the case – then that is difficult to do.

“I hope they can split up the charges somehow.

“It was a path which I think should’ve been explored a lot sooner.

“I still have a feeling that all other cases, Everton and Nottingham Forest, should have waited until everything with City’s case had been handled.

“It was the first cab off the rank, so that would’ve been fair.

“They have to get on with this as soon as possible. If they can replace PSR next year, then hopefully this sorry incident will not rear its ugly head again.”