Former Premier League manager Sam Allardyce has hit out at the ‘jealousy’ of other clubs who want to see Manchester City punished.
City are battling the Premier League after they were charged with 115 rule breaches.
There have been suggestions that if they are found guilty, they could face punishments ranging from fines, point deductions and even relegation.
But no decision will be made on City’s case for some time with an independent committee taking control.
Sam Allardyce has called other clubs in the Premier League ‘jealous’
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Nevertheless, there have been reports that other clubs in the Premier League have already condemned the champions and are desperate to see them punished.
Speaking on Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Allardyce hit out at those who want City punished.
“Well I think it’s pure jealousy,” said the former England boss.
“You’ve got to bear in mind that you don’t see many owners or chief execs these days, but it’s these chief executives who are arrogant.
“They’re not interested in the good of football, they’re interested in the good of their football club only, which could be to the detriment of football.”
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Relegation remains one possible punishment if City are found guilty, though the club maintain their total innocence.
Even so, such a punishment would be an extreme measure and has never been done by the Premier League.
When asked if football fans want to see City relegated from the top tier, Allardyce insisted that they only wanted another team to win the league.
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Man City could face relegation as one possible punishment
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“They don’t want them (Man City) to win the Premier League, they want somebody else for a change,” Allardyce said.
“That happened to Liverpool, and it happened to Man United.
“The ones who sustain it are the ones in the end that people want somebody else to win it.
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Man City have insisted they are innocent of the charges
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“Even some of the journos go that way. We’re a bit like that as human beings in England.
“But they’ve already put Man City in a position where they can’t relegate them because they’ve let the season start.
“They can’t relegate them on these charges alone, which is ridiculous. Why didn’t they do it in the summer?
“Having the court case while the season’s on is an absolutely ridiculous decision by the Premier League.”