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Kyle Walker has spoken about Man City's charges
Kyle Walker has insisted he and his former Manchester City teammates simply focused on giving their all on the pitch while the club's financial charges case unfolded. The current Premier League leaders have appealed after an independent panel found them guilty of 114 breaches of the league’s financial rules.
The case included accusations that City artificially inflated their income through ‘sham’ sponsorship deals. The club have consistently denied any wrongdoing. Potential punishments include a substantial fine and a points deduction severe enough to send City into the Championship.
The Mail has reported that a further deduction could follow, potentially leaving them facing a second season in the second tier. While the EFL would not be obliged to enforce that punishment, reports suggest it would do so.
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Other potential sanctions include a transfer embargo and stripping City of the titles they won during the period covered by the financial charges.
Walker spent eight seasons at the Etihad, winning 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles. The uncertainty over City's honours also puts an awkward spotlight on the Burnley defender's tattoo.
He has the words 'four in a row' inked on his leg to mark the club's four consecutive Premier League titles.
"[I've got] 'four in a row' tattooed," he confirmed on talkSPORT.
Presenter Andy Goldstein then probed: "If they take the medals away have you got a tattoo removal firm ready to take that one?"
Walker then replied: Well I'm probably going to have to do that bit! I'll try and keep it on, but hopefully we don't get things taken away."
Asked about the charges, Walked added: "It's the big elephant in the room we're probably all going to be asked when doing interviews or whatever. It doesn't look great.
"Let's not hide from the fact they've been found guilty but they're going through an appeal. As a player all I can say is all we did is go out and play our best as a team and I'll defend the players for the rest of my life, because I feel what we did and achieved in that time was incredible and probably won't be done ever again.
"But from the outside looking in, it doesn't look great and we have to address that."
That said, it is unlikely that any punishment will be handed down to City until the appeals process has been navigated.