MLS commissioner Don Garber has made it clear: New York City FC won't be investigated, despite Manchester City being found guilty of nearly every financial fair play charge brought against them by the Premier League.
That's a notable stance, given that NYCFC's chief financial officer Andrew Widdowson served as City's financial director throughout the entire period — 2009 to 2018 — when the Premier League club was breaking the rules. The same person. The same years. A different verdict, apparently.
Garber draws a firm line
Speaking at the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit, Garber didn't hedge. He dismissed the possibility of any NYCFC scrutiny and used most of his answer to thank City Football Group for their investment in the league — pointing to NYCFC's upcoming stadium in Queens and their MLS NEXT Pro ground in New Jersey as evidence of a committed ownership group.
"We're not in the business of looking at what our team owners do in other leagues," Garber said. "And frankly, I don't think any league would view what other owners do when they have multiple investments throughout other sports."
That logic is defensible in principle. MLS governs MLS. What happens in the Premier League stays in the Premier League. But when your CFO is the same individual who oversaw a decade of financial misconduct at a sister club, "not our problem" becomes a harder line to sell with a straight face.
What this means for NYCFC
Practically speaking, the 2021 MLS Cup champions are in the clear. No investigation, no charges, no sanctions. City Football Group — which added NYCFC as its first acquisition back in 2013 before the club entered MLS as an expansion side in 2015 — continues to operate without interference on the American side of the Atlantic.
For anyone tracking City Football Group's wider exposure in the wake of Man City's verdict, this closes one door. Whatever sanctions the Premier League ultimately hands down to Manchester City, they stay in Manchester.
Garber's position is essentially: our house, our rules. The connection to Widdowson is awkward, but awkward isn't actionable — not in MLS, at least.
