Liverpool will be keeping a close eye on the situation that has seen Man City reportedly found guilty of 114 breaches of financial rules
Manchester City's Etihad Stadium
Man City could be kicked out of the Premier League(Image: Gary Oakley/PA Wire)
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Liverpool will be watching the situation around Manchester City very closely, with potentially big impacts on the Reds. Reports emerged on Friday that City had been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges of alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules.
The club were first charged in 2023 with allegations relating to potential breaches over the nine-year period between 2009 and 2018. The club strongly deny the allegations, and are expected to lodge an appeal against the verdict.
If the decision is upheld, then the club will face significant punishments, including a potential points deduction or even expulsion from the league. Another potential punishment is to strip them of their titles retrospectively.
Should that happen, then it will have a significant impact on Liverpool. The Reds finished in second place behind Man City in 2014, meaning that they could potentially be awarded a third Premier League title.
One thing is for sure: the verdict is likely to send shockwaves throughout football. With that in mind, here is the latest on everything around the situation...
Man City chairman releases statement
Around 24 hours after the news first broke, Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak wrote an open letter to fans, where he outlined the club's confidence of proving their innocence.
Published on the club’s official website, it read: "I have been part of this Club for 18 years.
"I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul. This Club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again - how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today.
"Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.
"There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies.
"I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023. Every word matters and holds true.
“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our Club. We will not give them that opportunity.
"We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break. We travel to Anfield in a fortnight, and then host Paris St Germain in the Champions League back at Etihad Stadium - moments that give us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family.
"Thank you, as always, for your constant support."
Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Pep Guardiola
Khaldoon Al Mubarak has written an open letter to Man City fans(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Man City statement
On Friday, City released a short statement via a spokesperson, which said: “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 that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence."
The aforementioned statement, released in 2023, when the charges were first brought to Man City said: “Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.
"The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position. As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all."
‘Trouble’ warning sent
Former Crystal Palace owner-turned-pundit Simon Jordan has warned Man City that they are in ‘significant trouble’ and has predicted that they will be unsuccessful in any appeal against the ruling.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, Jordan said: "I'm unsurprised because I always thought Man City had a case to answer and there's a part of me, without wanting to be vindictive towards Man City, that thinks this is possibly a good thing.
"Because while Man City will put forward the argument that they were found guilty by UEFA and then cleared by CAS, that's a re-framing of the circumstances to some extent. Because the scope of what they were asked to contend with under the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) arbitration was slightly different to what UEFA found them guilty of in the first instance.
"So, it'll be interesting to see how Man City play the appeal out, but they are now in significant trouble, because I don't think that an appeal is going to be particularly fruitful for them, I don't think it's going to produce a different outcome. Because this is now reputational harm beyond all reputational harm."
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‘Football oblivion’ punishment
In terms of punishment, it’s still not known what could happen to City if the charges remain upheld. It, however, has been suggested that they could face ‘football oblivion’.
TalkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs claims that the Premier League are pushing for a ‘ground-breaking’ points deduction, or having the club relegated from the league.
If that is the case, it wouldn’t be the end of City’s problems. It’s added that the EFL are planning to back the Premier League and not allow the club to play in their leagues.
It means that City could, conceivably, face relegation to outside of the football league and play in the National League. New regulations brought in last season now allow the EFL to implement Premier League-imposed punishments on clubs.
Liverpool legal action
Liverpool are one of four Premier League clubs who have already prepared to take legal action against City, should their appeal be unsuccessful. The Daily Mail reports that the guilty verdict will trigger legal claims from clubs worth as much as £800 million.
The report says that clubs are preparing their own legal cases, with Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Man United serving formal notices reserving their right to take action back in 2014.
It's also added that, despite reports of City being found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges, the Premier League have actually been successful in proving all substantive claims.