Manchester City Squad Could Cause Controversy in PFA Awards Voting
The dust is settling on another outstanding Premier League season, and the annual hullabaloo surrounding the PFA Player of the Year awards is upon us. This year’s nominees reads like a who’s who from the top tier, with Manchester City talent Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, and Rodri all in the mix.
However, here’s a little-known rule set by the PFA thatcould potentially throw a wrench into the works
The Unlikely Candidate
According to the PFA manual, "A player is only entitled to receive an award providing that the players at his own club have participated in the ballot." Should the Manchester City squad choose collectively not to participate in the voting process entirely, it would render any wins for Foden, Haaland, or Rodri null and, quite frankly, void.
While scenarios like this are extremely rare—if not unprecedented—since 1974, it’s worth nothing that the PFA does place significant emphasis on the importance voting.
The Potential Slip-Up
In an interview late last year, PFA delegate and Manchester City star Ederson spoke about the significance of the voting process, stating ‘it’s crucial that every aspect of the game is represented ‘ By extension, if City are serious about promoting fairness during this process, they could opt into abstaining from the voting.
To make matters more intriguing, Haaland has already expressed his excitementaround the awards, stating, ‘"It’s an honor to be considered".
The Unspoken Logic
If we were to delve within the inner workings of the Manchester, we might find a peculiar affinity for this little-known rule. An intriguing thought, indeed
Consider the following: Manchester City not only boasts an incredibly passionate fan base but also boastsa rather… let’s label them ‘particular’ leadership style under Pep Guardolia
The Bottom of the Barrel
This unprecedented situation could lead to a number unexpected consequences. For instance, City team members might be left disappointed should their peers not back them in the voting process.
Worst-case scenario, it turns out that the PFA takes an extremely strict stance on enforcement
The Take and Give
In conclusion, we’d hope to see Manchester City players choose participate in the voting process, honoring his own club’s tradition and spirit throughout. If not, well…"
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