Former Tottenham and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, meanwhile, says “we have lived through a period of deception”.
Pochettino managed three clubs in the Premier League during the period covering City’s charges, with the 54-year-old spending 15 months at Southampton, five years at Tottenham and a single season with Chelsea.
“Whatever punishment [they choose], it’s impossible to turn back time,” said Pochettino.
“It’s done a lot of damage. Many clubs followed the rules and some didn’t.
“Maybe they thought that the punishment [wouldn’t come for a lot of years] – what are they going to do? An economic punishment? Docking points? It’s really hard.
“It is a huge sadness. We get into a situation where what got celebrated wasn’t that real, what seemed good maybe wasn’t so good, what didn’t look good maybe was good but couldn’t be good because of what happened.
“We went through something where sporting fairness didn’t exist. So, how do you repair everything that was damaged because of that, if it’s true all of the 114 rules that were broken, we’ve lived through a period of deception.”
Earlier this month, Pochettino said Chelsea should be stripped of the 2016-17 Premier League title after being found guilty of historical rule breaches and that it should be “awarded” to his Tottenham side, who finished runners-up.
Sources have told BBC Sport that other top flight clubs are seeking legal advice over possible compensation claims following the decision against City.
City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023 following a four-year investigation.
The club were referred to an independent commission. A behind-closed-doors hearing began in September 2024 and ran for about 12 weeks.
“Where were the controls?” said Pochettino on City being found guilty. “That’s what gets my attention. Where were the controls?
“If I remember being at Southampton, then Tottenham – I remember building [the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium] and not having the economic possibility of a transfer for 18 months.
“I think we were the only team in the history of the Premier League with 18 months without [making a transfer].
“Tottenham was fighting for titles with those above us and every year in the top four, getting to the semi-finals of the Champions League without being able to do a transfer for 18 months, all because we needed to get used to the [Premier League financial controls]?
“They were so strict with us but also so lenient with others. Because of that, that’s why I say: it’s all very strange.”
On Tuesday, La Liga president Javier Tebas said he agreed with Pochettino and believes City should face the most severe sanctions possible after an “era of disappointment”.
“In my opinion, the most severe sanction provided for under the Premier League regulations should be applied,” Tebas, 64, told BBC Sport at a summit in London hosted by global players’ union Fifapro.
“Given the number of years involved, the repeated breaches, the denial and the lack of cooperation, the most severe sanction allowed under the Premier League rules is what should be imposed, although I do not know exactly what that sanction would be.”
On Tuesday, La Liga president Javier Tebas said he agreed with Pochettino’s verdict and added: “In my opinion, the most severe sanction provided for under the Premier League regulations should be applied.
“Given the number of years involved, the repeated breaches, the denial and the lack of co-operation, the most severe sanction allowed under the Premier League rules is what should be imposed, although I do not know exactly what that sanction would be,” Tebas, 64, told BBC Sport at a summit in London hosted by global players’ union Fifapro.
The Spaniard added that he had been raising concerns about City’s conduct for “many years”.
