Michael Carrick has called for a swift resolution to Manchester City's financial charges case, insisting clarity is needed for everyone involved as the Premier League awaits the outcome of the club's appeal. An independent commission found City guilty of serious breaches of financial rules over a nine-season period between 2009/10 and 2017/18, including arranging 'sham' commercial agreements to inflate revenues and reduce costs. The commission also upheld the majority of charges relating to the club's failure to co-operate with the Premier League's investigation.
City deny wrongdoing and have appealed against the findings, with the question of any potential punishment still to be decided. Asked about the case, Carrick said: "I've got my own questions about it. It's affected me personally in different ways over a period of time.
"But as the case is going now, I don't know where that stands and how it's going to end up. So we'll just have to wait and see. "What I will say, the sooner it gets sorted, I think for everyone's benefit, is essential." The former Manchester United midfielder also reflected on the impact the case could have on the history of the Premier League, having experienced title races in which United finished behind City's teams.
However, Carrick insisted the emotions attached to competing for trophies could never be erased, regardless of what happens next. "Regardless of anything, a medal anyway, in any sport in history, I think later on you get the medal and it's proved at different times," he said. "It's the moment that you strive for, to win and achieve in that moment.
"So the medal here or there, not getting blown away, but that doesn't bring the feeling of whether you initially win or you don't win. That's essentially what we're all in for." Carrick added that the uncertainty surrounding the case made a speedy conclusion particularly important, given the potential implications for clubs across the league. "Speed is essential for everyone to be clear, to be able to deal with it, to be able to move on, whatever happens," he said.
"It's a unique situation to be in at this level, with such a huge impact in so many ways. So we all need to know what's going to happen." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "I'm not this kind of guy who blames someone with not enough information. Of course, I hear everything, I read everything, but I do not have all the information.
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