A cloud hung over Manchester City as they won the Premier League title again on Sunday and the same could be said for the tennis greats on the same day.
City have clinched the Premier League crown for a record fourth consecutive year, with Pep Guardiola’s dream team seeing off a spirited challenge from Arsenal to reclaim their title.
Yet amid their celebrations, critics continue to raise the 115 accusations of financial breaches leveled at them by Premier League bosses, with a ruling on what could be a game-changer if found guilty and which should be pronounced later. This year.
Many headlines the morning after City’s historic victory focused on their potential impending demise if they are found guilty in their looming legal battle with the Premier League and this story has comparisons to tennis’ greatest winner last Sunday .
Germany’s Alexander Zverev won the Rome Masters title in impressive fashion and, like City, media coverage of his victory highlighted a huge problem on his horizon as his trial for domestic physical violence, in an incident involving his ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea from 2020, is scheduled to start on May 31.
Zverev’s glory in Rome was a great reward for his efforts to bounce back from that horrific ankle injury at Roland Garros 2022, but his success at the pinnacle of men’s football shines a spotlight on a subject few tennis commentators wanted mentioned lately. a few years due to the sensitivity of the subject.
The key facts are that Zverev is due to stand trial later this month over an allegation of domestic violence by an ex-partner, with the Germans having vehemently denied the allegations on several occasions.
Inevitably, he was asked about the domestic violence charges he faces in Germany during his press conferences at tennis tournaments, but Zverev refused to be drawn into comments on the subject his legal team is asking him about. probably advised not to comment.
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Last November, Zverev was fined and fined after being accused of physically abusing his ex-girlfriend. He quickly filed an objection to the order, meaning he remains legally innocent and will not be sentenced until a final decision.
German law provides for penalties for physical violence ranging from a fine to five years in prison, with Zverev having already been fined €450,000 with his appeal pending.
The allegation against Zverev came under scrutiny when his role as a member of the ATP Players Council was announced in January.
In an interview with Clay magazine, Miguel Angel Reyes‐Varela – doubles player, who is also part of the Players’ Council – was asked about this matter.
He said action would be taken if the German was found guilty, while adding it would be “unfair” for any action to be taken before trial – and if he was found innocent.
“I asked the ATP about their position on the matter, what they knew or what information they had. I did it 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 was and how it was going to act. The ATP told me that ultimately there is a legal process that Sascha will have to resolve himself, and we will see with the final verdict.
“If he is found innocent, imagine if he were to be removed from the Council now. That would be somewhat unfair, wouldn’t it? If he is found guilty, then action will be taken.
“I’m not sure of the details of the case, I don’t know enough. I am wrong for not being 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 wanted to contribute to Council and tennis issues.
“From the outside, I think it would be a personal decision if, for him, working at the Council took time and effort that he would not want to devote to fully focusing on his career and managing his situation outside of the ground.
“If that was the case, then I think it would be his decision and I think everyone would accept it, right? But from there, until we say he can’t be there or he should be put on hold, I think it’s not up to us.
Zverev will not need to appear in court when his trial begins on May 31 and that is good news for the German who hopes to play the third round of Roland-Garros on that date.
Still, tennis chiefs will have a problem to resolve if Zverev is found liable for the charges against him, with the trial likely continuing until June.
