By Adegboyega Adeleye
Man City could face a range of sanctions, including a points deduction, financial penalty or even expulsion from the Premier League if reports that an independent tribunal has found the majority of the club’s 115 charges proven are confirmed.
Sky Sports reported on Friday that an independent tribunal has reached decisions in City’s long-running case, with reports from The Athletic and the BBC claiming that most of the charges were found to have been proven.
According to Sky Sports News, the process is now moving to the appeal stage, although the Premier League has not commented on the development because the proceedings remain private and confidential.
Man City have also maintained that the process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed, and have continued to deny wrongdoing.
The case dates back to allegations relating to the period between 2009 and 2018, alongside claims that City failed to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation between 2019 and 2023.
According to Sky Sports, the 115 charges include 54 relating to alleged failures to provide accurate financial information, 35 concerning alleged failures to cooperate with Premier League investigations, 14 relating to alleged failures to provide accurate details about player and manager payments, seven concerning profitability and sustainability rules, and five relating to UEFA rules, including Financial Fair Play regulations.
This article will give a detailed breakdown of possible sanctions, punishments, and what Manchester City could lose after the reported verdict of being guilty of the majority of 115 financial rule breaches.
What could Manchester City lose?
1. Premier League status
One of the most serious potential consequences could be expulsion from the Premier League. Sky Sports reports that, under the league’s rules, an independent commission could impose a points deduction, financial penalty or even expel a club from the Premier League.
If City were to be expelled, the club would lose its Premier League membership and could be moved to a lower division.
However, there has been no official announcement that City would be relegated to League Two, and the exact division they could play in would depend on the sanction ultimately imposed.
2. Points deduction
Manchester City could also face a points deduction if the reported findings are upheld. Sky Sports says the Premier League does not currently have a fixed sanctions grid for financial-rule breaches, meaning there is no predetermined number of points that would automatically apply to a particular breach.
The eventual deduction, if one were imposed, would therefore depend on the commission’s decision. However, no specific points figure has been announced.
3. Financial penalty
A financial penalty could also be imposed on Manchester City at the aftermath of the final verdict. Sky Sports lists a fine among the possible sanctions available to the commission, but there is currently no confirmed amount.
As a result, claims that City would face a particular “huge” fine would be premature until the sanction is officially announced.
4. Suspension and player-registration restrictions
The possible consequences could extend beyond a fine or points deduction. Sky Sports has previously reported that the commission’s powers could include suspending a club from playing league matches, imposing restrictions on player registrations, ordering compensation and recommending expulsion from the Premier League.
A transfer embargo has also previously been discussed as a possible consequence of the case. However, there is currently no confirmed decision that Manchester City would be given a five-season transfer ban.
Could Man City lose their trophies?
Another major question would be whether trophies won during the period covered by the charges could be affected. Manchester City won several major honours during the period covered by the case, including Premier League titles, League Cups and an FA Cup.
The possibility of titles being stripped has previously been discussed as one of the potential consequences of the case. However, there has been no official announcement that City would be stripped of any of their Premier League titles, FA Cups or League Cups.
Any such punishment would therefore need to be confirmed in the eventual judgment or sanction.
What happens next?
The reported findings would not necessarily mark the end of the case. According to Sky Sports, the process is moving to the appeal stage, while the Premier League has declined to comment because the proceedings remain confidential.
Manchester City have also maintained that the process is ongoing and that significant elements remain to be completed. The club has consistently denied the allegations and previously said its defence was supported by what it described as a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence.
Thererfore, the final consequences for City could therefore depend on the outcome of the appeal process and the sanctions eventually imposed.
For now, the reported tribunal findings represent a major development in the eight-year-old case, but the precise punishment Manchester City could face remains to be determined.
Vanguard News
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