Former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has insisted 'everyone knew' about Manchester City's cheating and has called for the club to be relegated from the Premier League after being found guilty of breaching financial rules.

Marsch was appointed as Leeds boss in February 2022 but was sacked 12 months later as the club battled to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The 52-year-old, who is now in charge of Canada, was asked about an independent commission ruling verdict that ruled Man City had disguised payments worth £900million in a nine-year period peppered with ‘sham’ deals. 

In a damning 40-page verdict, published on Tuesday, found City artificially inflated sponsorship agreements and pumped money into the club from its Abu Dhabi owners via disguised payments in a bid to swerve Premier League spending rules.

While the ruling covered the period between 2009-2018, Marsch expressed his belief that there were 'inconsistencies' even during his time in the Premier League.

Marsch told the Guardian that Man City should be relegated from the top flight as a result of the verdict. Man City confirmed on Friday that they have lodged an appeal to overturn the independent commission's verdict. 

'I think Man City should be punished severely. I think they should have to go down, and by the way, everyone knew about it. Everyone knew,' Marsch said.

'That summer [2022], us and Man City were the only teams that said we made money. 

'For us, we did make money, because we sold Raphinha, we sold Kalvin Phillips [to City]. We had a lot left over from what we bought. 

'At the time, we weren't in a position financially to not save. Our ownership didn't have deep pockets. 

'Whereas when Man City says this, I was literally like, "Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of joke?"

'When they said they got Erling Haaland for £52m, it's like: "Yeah, OK, sure". 

'So, I knew there were inconsistencies in it, but what can you do? You just put your arms in the air and go, "This is football".

The 2022 summer referred to by Marsch had seen clubs reveal their accounts for the 2020-21 season, which had been played behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Leeds announced an operating profit of £5.5m, with the club's income having been boosted by their return to the top flight following promotion from the Championship the previous campaign. 

Man City reported a narrow £2.4m profit in the same period having reported losses of £126m in the 2019-20 season.

The club's run to the 2021 Champions League final and their fourth Premier League title under Pep Guardiola were cited as key reasons for their financial success.

Marsch's comments also highlighted the summer transfer window in 2022, which saw Man City sign Haaland for £52m and bring in Phillips from his Leeds side in a £42m deal.

Leeds also sold Brazilian star Raphinha to Barcelona for £55m, with the club using the finances from both deals to fund close to £140m of incomings.

Leeds, who sacked Marsch in February 2023, were relegated at the end of the season. 

Daily Mail Sport reported last week that the Premier League could review transactions following 2018, the final year covered by their investigation into Man City.

Man City's appeal against the independent commission verdict was made on Friday, with the club stating it 'maintains its innocence'.

Much of their defence will claim commercial contracts were paid for by the Abu Dhabi government rather than their owner.