Amanda Staveley calls for Man City and Premier League resolution

Former Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley has spoken out on the ongoing Manchester City situation, calling for the Premier League and the reigning champions to find a resolution.

Staveley is in a particularly interesting position given that she helped broker Sheikh Mansour’s purchase of Manchester City back in 2008, before later becoming a key figure in Newcastle United’s Saudi-backed takeover in 2021.

Amanda Staveley wants Man City resolution

Speaking at the Leaders event at Stamford Bridge, Staveley called for the focus to be on finding a way forward and protecting the Premier League.

“We have such an exciting league. Football in Europe is potentially the most watched sport in the world and we should really nurture this asset.

“We should nurture our fans and we should do everything we can to try and make a resolution to the issues that exist today.

“And I hope that somebody with probably more negotiating abilities [than me] comes in and resolves that issue.

“And I think it will get resolved. I think the Premier League had a difficult thing, an opportunity. But you’ve got to also try to put yourself in the executives’ [at the EPL] position.

“You’ve got 20 clubs and half of them are shouting at you to do one thing; the rest of the ten clubs are shouting at you to do another.

“So, as an executive, you’re always pulled; you’re always being threatened to be sued by one club.

“And you’re meant to actually be co-owners of one league. So, to navigate all of that is really tough.

“And, you know, you’ve got so much pressure on, generally, football at the moment. So, I think we should just focus on the future and getting it right and trying to build bridges with our neighbours.”

Fair punishment still needs to be part of the resolution

Staveley is right that the Premier League needs to find a way forward, but there is an important part of this which cannot simply be brushed aside. So what punishment is appropriate?

An independent Commission has found Manchester City guilty of serious financial rule breaches covering a nine-season period, including findings that the club used sham commercial arrangements and misstated its finances. The Commission also found City guilty of the majority of the charges relating to its failure to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.

That makes it difficult to simply draw a line under the situation without a punishment that reflects the scale of what has been found.

Everton were handed a 10-point deduction for a PSR breach in 2023, later reduced to six on appeal, before receiving another two-point deduction for a separate breach. Nottingham Forest were also deducted four points for their PSR breach.

Those clubs had to accept sporting consequences for breaking the Premier League’s financial rules.

If Manchester City are ultimately found guilty after their appeal, there has to be a fair and proportionate punishment — whatever form that takes — because the rules have to mean something for every club.

Newcastle fans will naturally be watching this closely, particularly given how financial regulations can have such a huge impact on what clubs are able to do in the transfer market.

Finding a resolution is important, as Staveley says. But finding a resolution and ensuring the punishment fits the breaches are two things that should go hand in hand.