Board Must Step Down
Former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein has called for the club's directors to resign. This comes after the Premier League found the club guilty of serious financial rule breaches.
The league announced on Tuesday that Manchester City broke rules systematically between 2009 and 2018. Premier League CEO Richard Masters stated that the club systematically broke the rules for nearly a decade. In response, Manchester City released a statement saying they plan to appeal the verdict.
Bernstein, who chaired the club from 1998 to 2003, believes the current leadership cannot continue. He argued that the board of directors, including the chief executive, must take responsibility for the running of the club during that period.
Legal Concerns and Fraud
The former chairman believes the situation is serious enough to go beyond football authorities. When asked in an interview if the club's actions amounted to fraud, Bernstein suggested that the board's actions deserve a legal investigation.
"I would go that far, yes," Bernstein said. He admitted he is not a lawyer but described the situation as damning beyond belief.
He argued that if Manchester City were a typical public company, the directors would already be suspended or forced to step down while the process plays out, regardless of any pending appeal.
Demoted From the Premier League
Bernstein, a lifelong Manchester City supporter, also thinks a financial penalty is no longer enough. He believes the club should be kicked out of the Premier League if the verdict is upheld.
He expressed worry that an appeal could drag on for a year or two, which he said would be the worst outcome for everyone. However, if the charges stand and the appeal fails, Bernstein feels the club must leave the top division.
"I'm afraid for the club I love that they've got to come out of the Premier League," Bernstein said. He added that the entire situation is beyond awful and that he cannot think of a penalty strong enough to match the offences.
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