David Bernstein Urges Manchester City Board to Quit After Breach Ruling
Former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein has urged the club’s directors to resign or be suspended after the Premier League found City guilty of financial-rule breaches covering the period from 2009 to 2018.
The Premier League announced on Tuesday that City had been found guilty on every charge in the case. Chief executive Richard Masters said the club had repeatedly violated league regulations over almost a decade. City have confirmed that they intend to challenge the decision through an appeal.
Bernstein, who led Manchester City between 1998 and 2003 and remains a lifelong supporter, said the scale of the findings required a sanction beyond a financial penalty.
“I cannot think of a punishment strong enough,” Bernstein said. “It is absolutely terrible.”
Call for board action
Bernstein focused particular criticism on the current board, including the chief executive who was in post during the period examined by the Premier League.
He argued that those responsible for the club’s administration could not remain in place while the matter continued, regardless of City’s planned appeal.
“The directors, including the chief executive, have been there for years and were there through this period,” he said. “They are responsible for running the club in every respect.
“In a public company, with something of this seriousness, I believe directors would have to resign or be suspended while the situation was resolved. Appeal or no appeal, I do not think the present leadership can continue with credibility.”
Bernstein raises prospect of wider investigation
In a separate interview, Bernstein was asked whether the case could amount to fraud. He said the allegations were sufficiently grave to merit consideration beyond football’s own disciplinary structures, while stressing that he was not a lawyer.
“I would go that far,” he said. “It is something so serious that it may go beyond the football authorities. It is damning beyond belief.”
Bernstein also said City could face removal from the Premier League should the verdict ultimately stand. He warned that a long appeal process, potentially lasting one or two years, would be damaging for all involved.
He said a fine would no longer be an adequate response if the charges were upheld after the appeal process. “If the appeal does not proceed or it fails, then, painful as it is for a club I love, they have to leave the Premier League,” Bernstein said. “This is beyond awful.”
