Reports state that Manchester City have been found guilty of breaking Premier League rules - what happens next, and what punishment could they get?
The long-running investigation into whether Manchester City broke Premier League spending rules appears to have reached a conclusion, with The Athletic reporting on Friday afternoon that the club had been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges laid against them.
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More than three years after charges were first brought against the club, an independent panel reportedly concluded that City had breached a number of the top flight’s financial rules. The verdict had not been made public at the time of writing.
So now that a verdict has been reached, what happens next – and how could the club be punished if the decision holds up?
What have Manchester City been ‘found guilty’ of?
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has denied that the club broke Premier League rulesplaceholder image
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has denied that the club broke Premier League rules | Getty Images
The 115 charges brought against Manchester City relate to alleged breaches of Premier League spending rules between 2009 and 2018, in the period which followed the takeover of the club by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
City are said to have been found guilty of breaking regulations related to the accurate reporting of financial information, including the value of sponsorship deals and wages. In breaching those rules, Man City may have breached profit and sustainability rules.
Some of the charges also related to a failure to co-operate with the investigation, with those charges extending into the 2022/23 season. Manchester City have consistently denied the charges since they were first brought to the table.
City – who were also banned from European competition and fined by UEFA over alleged financial breaches in 2020 before the sanctions were overturned on appeal – have the right to appeal the verdict, and are expected to do so. That could mean that there is some time before any punishment is finalised.
A spokesperson for the club told The Athletic that “the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023. The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
The next stage in the process is for an appeal to be heard, while the Premier League considers what punishment to hand down to Manchester City.
What punishment will Man City get?
Vincent Kompany lifts the Premier League title in 2019 - one of a number of trophies won during the period the charges pertain toplaceholder image
Vincent Kompany lifts the Premier League title in 2019 - one of a number of trophies won during the period the charges pertain to | Getty Images
Assuming the verdict holds up after the expected appeal, the Premier League have a range of options by which they could punish Man City after they were found guilty of breaking league financial rules. Options, which are laid out in the Premier League handbook, include a reprimand, a fine, a points deduction or, in the most extreme scenario, expulsion from the Premier League.
In the latter scenario, City would have to apply to the EFL to be allowed back into the league ladder, with no precedent for how their case might be handled if that were to happen.
In addition, City could also be stripped of titles won during the period in which they were found guilty of breaking spending rules via retroactive points deductions. They won three Premier League titles during the period in which they have been found to have broken the regulations. Were they to have their titles taken away, then Liverpool may be officially named as champions for the 2013/14 and 2018/19 seasons, with Manchester United the beneficiaries as runners-up in 2017/18.
The scale and scope of the charges means that there is no precedent for what form of punishment Manchester City might receive, but a significant sanction can be expected given the number of regulations they have been found to have breached.
The timeline for any punishment to be decided is unclear. Manchester City’s expected appeal could delay proceedings for some time. The final outcome of proceedings is uncertain, but with no defined end point at this time.
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