Club boss on Man City charges: "It's like taking doping and winning an Olympic medal"

Hull City owner Acun Ilıcalı has weighed in on the Manchester City financial scandal, stating that if the allegations against the Citizens are confirmed, the breaches would be tantamount to doping in sport. An independent commission has reportedly found the club guilty on the majority of their 115 charges, though the Etihad outfit firmly deny any wrongdoing and are expected to appeal.

"I am not saying whether they are guilty or not, because they claim they are innocent, and the Premier League says the opposite. But if they didn't follow the rules, it's like taking doping and winning an Olympic medal. Ultimately, it is financial doping – bringing in the best players with huge sums of money and breaking the rules," Ilıcalı said. He stressed that while he does not know every detail of the case as an owner, any breaches that provide a major competitive advantage must result in a fitting penalty.

Ilıcalı added that the financial gap between clubs is already significant due to natural disparities in revenue and should not be widened further by circumventing regulations. The Hull City chief called for a punishment that serves as a genuine deterrent, signaling that such practices will not be tolerated in English football. Meanwhile, Manchester City maintain their innocence as the final sanctions in the case have yet to be decided.