"Can't go unpunished..." - Wenger's previous dig at Man City over FFP resurfaces after 'rule breaches'

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s previous dig at Manchester City has resurfaced amid accusations the club have breached the Premier League’s financial rules.

On Monday the Premier League announced an unprecedented array of charges against City relating to a period between 2009 and 2018, with potential punishments if the club is found guilty ranging from fines to relegation.

The club have been referred to an independent commission over more than 100 alleged breaches of financial rules following a four-year investigation. The Premier League also claimed the reigning champions had not co-operated with their investigation since it began in December 2018.

In response City said they were "surprised" by the charges and are supported by a "body of irrefutable evidence".

The club said in a statement: "Manchester City is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.

"The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.

"As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all."

Wenger’s past Man City dig

Speaking in 2020, Wenger insisted that any club found guilty of bending financial rules should be dealt with accordingly.

Meanwhile, the former Arsenal boss showed little sympathy for City in particular, who bought a number of his players during his time in charge at the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking at the Laureus Awards, Wenger said: "They bought all my players! I think this is a big question, you know, I think sport is basically to win by respecting the rules.

"That's what it is about. We celebrate the best in every sport but we want to know that they respect the rules.

"If there is no respect for the rules then it's not real sport, so that's what I think is the most important. The rules exist and you have to respect them. Once you go into a competition, it means you sign that you will adhere to the competition by respecting the rules.

“I was always for control over financial rules and that clubs work with the natural income they have, the rules that have been created. I'm convinced that at the moment there is evolution to be made in the way the rules are at the moment, but they are what they are and you have to respect them.

"The people who don't respect them are caught by trying to get around the rules in more or less legal ways [and] have to be punished. If it's proven that this has been done on purpose you cannot let that go unpunished."

Wenger went on to explain that lucrative financial outlays are crucial for clubs at every level of the game, but insisted it was important to stick to the rules to avoid being sanctioned.

Wenger added: "More or less the table is always linked with the amount of money clubs have, the turnover of the clubs.

"It has always historically been exactly the same. You could go through the history and it's the richest clubs who win the championships.

"I think this trend has become stronger compared to 20 or 30 years ago because there is a huge interest in the best, everybody wants to watch the best teams.

“The best teams have become richer and the difference to the smaller teams has become bigger. That's why I believe we see what we see, the structure is nearly established and all of us could predict a little bit what could happen in every league."

Topics: Football, Transfers, Arsenal, Manchester City, Arsene Wenger, Premier League

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.