The legal threats diluting Manchester City’s Premier League run have echoes of a taboo tennis subject

A cloud was hanging over Manchester City as they clinched the Premier League title again on Sunday and the same could be said of the big winner in tennis on the same day.

City won the Premier League crown for a record fourth consecutive year as Pep Guardiola’s dream team overcame a spirited challenge from Arsenal to claim the title.

However, amid their celebrations, critics continue to raise the 115 charges of breaching financial rules brought against them by Premier League bosses, with a decision on what could be a game-changing punishment if they are found guilty to be pronounced later. this year.

So many of the headlines the morning after City’s historic title win focused on their potential impending doom if they are found guilty in their looming legal battle with the Premier League, and this story has drawn comparisons to the biggest last Sunday’s tennis winner.

Germany’s Alexander Zverev won the Rome Masters title in impressive fashion and, like City, the media coverage of his victory highlighted a huge problem on the horizon as his trial for physical domestic abuse in an incident where he ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea has been involved since 2020, is due to start on May 31.

Zverev’s glory in Rome was an excellent reward for his efforts to come back from that gruesome ankle injury at the 2022 French Open, yet his success at the top of the men’s game highlights a subject that few tennis commentators have been willing to mention lately. several years due to the sensitivity of the subject.

The basic facts are that Zverev is due to stand trial later this month on an allegation of domestic abuse by a former m partner, with the German vehemently denying the allegations several times.

Inevitably, he was asked about the domestic abuse allegations he faces in Germany in his press conferences at tennis tournaments, but Zverev refused to be drawn into comment on the subject he had no doubt been counseled on. not to comment by his legal team.

READ MORE: Novak Djokovic’s ominous warning of Alexander Zverev is about to be tested to the max

Last November, Zverev was given a penalty order and fined after being accused of physically abusing his ex-girlfriend and quickly lodged an objection to the order, meaning he remains legally innocent and is not sentenced until a final judgment.

German law provides for penalties for physical abuse ranging from a fine to up to five years in prison, with Zverev already fined €450,000, with his appeal pending.

The allegation against Zverev led to scrutiny when his role as a member of the ATP Players Council was announced in January.

In an interview with Clay magazine, doubles player Miguel Angel Reyes‐Varela, who is also on the Players Council, was asked about the case.

He claimed that action would be taken if the German was found guilty, while adding that it would be “unfair” if any action was taken before the trial – even if he was found not guilty.

“I asked the ATP about their position on this matter, what they knew or what information they had. We did that at the Australian Open, before the first session we had as a group,” Reyes-Varela said.

“I wanted to know what the institution’s position is and how they will act. ATP told me that ultimately there is a court case that Sascha himself will have to deal with and we will see with the final verdict.

“If he is found not guilty, imagine if he was removed from the Council right now. That would be kind of unfair, wouldn’t it? If found guilty then action will be taken.

“I’m not sure about the details of the case, I don’t know enough. It is wrong of me not to be more informed.

“I haven’t spoken to Sasha personally. I don’t know him very well, but from a meeting and some details there I saw that he wants to contribute to the problems of the Council and tennis.

“From the outside, I think it would be a personal decision if, for him, working on the Council required time and effort that he didn’t want to devote to fully focusing on his career and dealing with his situation in off the field.

“If that was the case, then I think that would be his decision and I think everyone would accept it, right? But from there to us saying he can’t be there or he should be put on hold — I don’t think it’s up to us.”

Zverev does not have to appear in court when his case starts on May 31 and that is good news for the German who will be hoping to play in the third round of the French Open on that date.

However, tennis bosses will have a problem to deal with if Zverev is found guilty of the charges brought against him, the trial could continue until June.