Thierry Henry comments publicly on Man City’s guilty verdict for the first time
Manchester City have been found guilty on 114 counts of financial rule breaches in a news story that has dominated the Premier League this week.
It’s been wall-to-wall coverage of Man City everywhere you look, and, of course, Arsenal also have a vested interest here.
Indeed, Arsenal could claim some compensation from City, while if City are stripped of titles, Arsenal could be in line to inherit some of their trophies.
Now, Arsenal’s greatest player of all-time has gone on the record to speak about this matter.
Speaking to RMC Sport, Thierry Henry has shared his verdict on this situation.
Thierry Henry comments on Man City situation
Henry conducted a two hour interview with RMC Sport this week covering everything from the Ballon d’Or race to Zinedine Zidane’s start as France manager.
Inevitably, the conversation turned to City at one point, and Henry was coy when giving his answer.
The former striker said that he isn’t a lawyer or a judge, so he can’t give a verdict on what has happened, but he did say that this entire thing is a stain on the Premier League and it doesn’t look good.
“You’re covering the Premier League this weekend, and this scandal involving Manchester City is getting a lot of attention. People are talking about the biggest scandal in Premier League history, all these alleged breaches reportedly amounting to more than a billion euros for Manchester City, financial offences over ten years.”
“We’re seeing quite a lot coming out, and people are wondering what sanctions Manchester City could face. They have until tomorrow evening to appeal this Premier League decision and the charges.”
“We’re talking about 114 offences out of 115 matters that were examined. How did you react to it?” Henry was asked.
“There are several questions in the case. A friend of mine called me yesterday,” Henry began
“And he knows me, so he’ll tell you I’m not joking, because I’m sitting in front of a camera. When he called me, I said: ‘Lawyer discussion and all that, leave me alone.’
“And there have been things going on for a long time that everyone has been talking about. Obviously, it doesn’t look good.
“I told him straight: ‘I’m not a judge, I’m not a lawyer.’
“So I don’t know exactly. I see ‘114 charges’ written down, but I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what it means at all. I don’t know the Premier League rules. I don’t work for the FA. I’m not a lawyer. I haven’t studied this, and I’m certainly not a judge.
“Some people say one thing, others say something else.
“The truth is, all we can say is that it is a stain on the league, and it doesn’t look good.
“Every time I’m out in the street and someone comes up to me and says, ‘What do you think?’
“I tell them: ‘Leave me alone. I’m not a lawyer and I’m not a judge.’
“Generally, when I’m on television, I analyse matches. This weekend there’s Liverpool–Manchester City, I think.”
Fair play to Henry for not playing the role of a barstool barrister here, and, at the moment, all we can say is that this isn’t a good look for the Premier League.
City still have an appeal to go through, so there’s no point in casting aspersions just yet, but, as Henry says, this entire situation isn’t a good look for the English game.