It's almost two years on from the Premier League's bombshell announcement relating to Manchester City and 115 counts of alleged financial wrongdoing, but an independent legal hearing into the case has come to an end. On Friday, December 6, the closing arguments had been heard.
It leaves a three-man panel to decide what the outcome will be. Outside of the courtroom, there has been plenty of speculation and suggestions as to what will happen and Newcastle United will be keeping a close eye on proceedings..
City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted he believes his club's rivals are keen to see the reigning Premier League champions punished. Should they be found guilty - of which there are close to 130 charges rather than the initial 115 reported due to an error - they face serious sanctions, but there's currently no precedent set.
It's believe the current rulebook would allow huge monetary punishment through fines, but also registration bans, points deductions, relegation and the stripping of titles. A club has never faced such an array of retribution for what would be, in effect, cheating.
However, it must be stressed, City have denied any wrongdoing throughout the entire process, pleading their innocence. With an appeal likely to follow a decision - which could come in 2025 - the footballing world will finally hear the extent of those charges. What though, do **[Chronicle Live](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/newcastle-united-fc)** writers think of the situation?
### Aaron Stokes
If Manchester City are to be found guilty for some of their more serious 115 charges, you would hope the punishment matches the crime. (I'm not holding my breath!)
Of course, we don't know the extent in which the Premier League behemoths may have broken the rules but if they have breached multiple regulations, with those said rule breaks directly helping them dominate the top flight for so many years, I would say financial fines or slaps on the wrist won't cut it. Sticking an asterisk next to their titles means little too.
If they are found to have seriously bent and broken rules all others have followed, only a points deduction or relegations will suffice.
### Lee Ryder
In truth I would be absolutely astonished if Man City were found guilty on 115 fronts. Therefore it is difficult to suggest what a suitable punishment should be given we don't know the true extent of the crime, if any. In my view - and this would be the same for any - each charge should be punished on its own merits.
For example, there are 89 charges that are based on not providing information stretching back as far as 2009, so that's different personnel potentially and different times, how severe are the issues? Until the public get a closer look and more information it's hard to suggest that an 89-point deduction could be handed out.
Manchester City's hearing over their Premier League charges has come to an end (Image: Visionhaus)
As for breaching PSR and UEFA regulations as far back as 2015, you wonder why it has taken so long. If the PSR issues reflect the same severity or worse than Everton and Nottingham Forest I'd expect the same punishment to be dealt which should be a points deduction.
I honestly don't think that we will see the fireworks of a relegation or demotion down the divisions. I can see cash fines handed out for sure and hefty ones at that.
As somebody who follows a club in Newcastle that has a lot of questions on FFP and PSR, mainly because a lot of the rules came in after the takeover of Newcastle in 2021, I am sceptical about the whole process. Pushing clubs into replaying games and changes outcomes of certain seasons is a farcical idea.
If guilty a heavy fine and points deduction based on exact failings is required and if that leads to relegation that could be unfortunate but I honestly don't think it gets to that stage.
### James Smailes
The conundrum facing the Premier League over what punishment to give Manchester City if they're found guilty of the vast amount of charges against them, is there is no real precedent in English football to follow.
Juventus found themselves stripped of their titles from the record books and were relegated a division after being accused of match fixing. Rangers were expelled from the SPL and forced to start again at the bottom of the Scottish Football League pyramid after a financial meltdown, but that's not the same as what Man City are being accused of.
How do you go about deciding the punishment when no real outcome is written into the bylaws? The punishment has to be something that hurts. Handing a club of Man City's wealth a fine is not suitable and does not provide the warning which needs to be made to ensure others don't follow suit. For me, if guilty, relegation from the top flight would be a fair punishment. Relegation to which division, now that's a different question. North West Counties League, anyone?
### Stuart Jamieson
It's almost hard to imagine a definitive resolution to this case. If Man City can be clearly shown to have deliberately broken Premier League rules then they must face the consequences. But can anyone really imagine a clear-cut verdict?
Both sides appear too entrenched to compromise, which is potentially worrying as this could drag on for a long time yet, but given punishments handed out to Nottingham Forest and Everton, this will be a massive decision.
### Matty Hewitt
As mentioned above, it's almost impossible to give a clear cut opinion given we don't quite know the full extent of the case - yet. If City are found guilty. it could have serious implications for the rest of the Premier League.
The fact there's no precedent to follow makes things even more difficult. The Premier League themselves would surely face serious questions regarding the length of time to bring these charges to court?
The integrity of the top flight is at serious risk. If City are found guilty, the charges must be severe enough to ensure this doesn't happen again. Can I see a damning relegation? Not likely.