Man City guilty verdict threatens Manchester’s 2040 Olympic Games hopes
· Yahoo Sports
The ongoing legal battle between Manchester City and the Premier League could have consequences that stretch beyond the Etihad Stadium and across the wider city.
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According to the Daily Mail, there are genuine concerns that the controversy could damage Manchester’s hopes of becoming part of a wider North of England bid to host a future Olympic Games.
City have been found guilty of all but one of their 115 charges, but they have denied any wrongdoing.
Their punishment could be decided before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) selects the host of the 2040 Games, which is expected to happen in 2033.
That should give Manchester some time to recover if the City ultimately avoids serious punishment.
Munich has entered the race for hosting duties by announcing plans to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, marking a century since the controversial Berlin 1936 event held under Nazi rule.
That connection could be a key part of the debate when the IOC selects the 2036 host in 2029.
Back in Manchester, City continue to receive public support from several commercial partners despite the dark clouds hovering over the club.
Etihad Airways has reportedly explored possible legal action against the Premier League, which explains how their partners feel about the situation.
However, Puma’s Oxford Street store reportedly featured a City shirt alongside a sign promoting a tongue-in-cheek “Cityzens Support Line”.
Meanwhile, another major issue continues to divide English football.
The Premier League and EFL have yet to agree on a new financial distribution deal that could reportedly provide an additional £1.8 billion to the lower leagues over a decade.
The primary issue concerns how the money should be divided.
The EFL wants a 75% share for the Championship, 15% for League One and 10% for League Two, compared to the current 80/12/8 split.
Championship clubs are due to meet to discuss the proposal, while suggestions of a Premier League II have resurfaced. But the latter could be tricky with an independent football regulator now in place.