Man City 'have made a very dangerous move' as Graeme Souness blasts war with Premier League
Man City have been accused of making a 'dangerous move' against the Premier League by Graeme Souness
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Graeme Souness has blasted Manchester City and accused the Premier League winners of making a 'dangerous move' by taking legal action against the top flight.
Earlier this month, City announced they would be challenging rules on 'associated party transactions' with an arbitration tribunal set to hear the case.
City want the rules, which were introduced in December 2021 before being adjusted earlier this year, changed.
It comes amid 115 financial charges that hang over the club, though they strongly deny any wrongdoing and are confident they'll be able to clear their name.
Man City have been accused of making a 'dangerous move' against the Premier League by Graeme Souness
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Reports say Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa are all in City's corner amid their fight with the top flight.
Yet Souness, writing for the Daily Mail, has now criticised the reigning champions and accused them of making a 'very dangerous move'.
"If Manchester City succeed in their legal challenge to the Premier League, potentially the competition will end up like Scotland with only two teams capable of winning it," he said.
"With the financial handcuffs off, City and Newcastle United will have the resources to outmuscle everyone.
"It would be the beginning of the demise of the Premier League as a competitive entity and people will start to lose interest.
"We love our league because it is so competitive.
"We love the fact the underdog can always spring a shock result - like Leicester winning the Premier League.
"City want the rules changed to suit them.
"They are making a very dangerous move by challenging the authority they signed up to and it is one that is bound to alienate not just the vast majority of clubs in the Premier League but supporters too.
"City’s decision makers are giving a master class on how to make your football club unpopular."
It comes days after Souness said it was a 'sad time' for English football.
"Manchester City are challenging the entire fabric of our game," the Liverpool icon told William Hill.
"They’re going as far as they possibly can to say, 'you’re all wrong and we’re going to sue you and prove you’re wrong'.
"How are the rest of the Premier League going to view Manchester City right now?
"Someone who will be laughing right now is the President of the Spanish FA, because he’s been going on about the power in the Premier League for a long time now and the wrongs of our game. It’s a sad time for English football."
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Souness isn't the only pundit in football to criticise City for their actions.
Simon Jordan, speaking also speaking to the bookmakers, branded Pep Guardiola's side a 'disgrace' for raging war on the Premier League.
And he also called for City to be expelled from the top flight, too.
"I am gobsmacked with what Manchester City are doing," he said.
"I think it's absolutely outrageous.
Graeme Souness fears what could happen if Man City win their case against the Premier League
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"They're trying to bully the headmaster when the headmaster is trying to expel them, it's an absolute disgrace and it brings the game into complete disrepute.
"If I was an owner in the Premier League now, I would be campaigning to expel them.
"I think fans should be very scared of the behaviour they’re showing."