Tim Sherwood's controversial statement in full as Sky Sports apologise to Man City

Manchester City have been accused of making "their own rules up" by Tim Sherwood - with Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas forced to issue an apology live on Soccer Saturday.

Sherwood, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa manager, made the accusation during his punditry duties on the popular TV show this weekend. The ex-England international, now a regular for Sky Sports, was discussing City making three signings this month following the arrivals of Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.

And while having a debate with colleague Paul Merson, Sherwood referenced City's 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules while also questioning their ability to splash the clash this month. Clubs are under pressure to follow strict the league's profit and sustainability rules (PSR) - and Sherwood offered his theory.

But moments before the 3pm kick-offs, Thomas offered an apology to City and said: "Welcome back, before we get underway, the whistles going around the country, we had a conversation earlier today in the build up about Manchester City, their transfer business.

"There was a comment made about Manchester City and the rules. I just want to say that they are absolutely not the views of Sky Sports and we apologise to Manchester City for those comments."

Here's what Sherwood said...

On City’s future, Sherwood said: “They seem to be the only team who can spend money and they’ve got 115 [charges] over their head, I just find it incredible..."

Merson replied: “Do you think, Tim, they know they’re gonna get a transfer embargo?”

Sherwood said: “Perhaps yeah, they must know something.”

Merson replied: “If you give Haaland a nine-year contract you’re thinking this could be a two, three, four-year transfer embargo, I dunno.”

Sherwood concluded: “Yeah possibly. These players they’ve brought in are certainly for now and the future. They’re trying to build for the future, they made a mistake by not buying in the summer. I think they’ve realised that, it’s obviously brilliant in hindsight, we’ve all got a degree in that.

“Obviously, they should have strengthened, they never managed to do it and they’ve come unstuck. But now they’ve gone into the market, players are available, Pep Guardiola is a huge pull, especially for attacking players.

“Any player who plays in the forward end of the pitch wants to play for Pep Guardiola, and that’s certainly an exceptional pull for any player, so I don’t think they’ve finished [spending] no.

“If there’s players available they will go and get them, even if they have to pay over the top, they don’t care. Man City make their own rules up.”

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