Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 Premier League charges, sparking speculation over what might happen next.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City looks dejected during the Premier League match between Manc
Erling Haaland's club are in trouble after being found guilty of breaching Premier League rules. (Image: Getty Images)
Following recent revelations that Manchester City have been found guilty on 114 of its Premier League charges, speculation has intensified over potential consequences. Rival supporters will undoubtedly have strong views on appropriate sanctions, while City and their fanbase are likely to see matters rather differently.
The club maintains its innocence and remains determined to clear its name. Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak released a statement declaring: "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."
Meanwhile, calls have emerged to relegate the Manchester outfit, with former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn proposing that the league consider stripping City of titles secured between 2009 and 2018, the timeframe covered by the charges. Should such action materialise, it would trigger considerable ramifications.
Erasing City's results from those campaigns wouldn't just crown new champions for 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18 - the knock-on effects would also impact Champions League qualification and Premier League survival for numerous clubs.
While reversing history may seem an impossible task, we have examined the nine seasons in question to determine which clubs have suffered most from City's results during that period. Here's what our analysis revealed.
City's outcomes remain largely unchanged throughout the 2009/10 campaign, apart from Everton securing European qualification and Burnley guaranteeing Premier League survival. West Ham would also climb above Wigan, while Blackburn would leapfrog Birmingham in the less significant placings.
Hull City arguably endure the most agonising scenario. Survival would elude them even with City dropping to 20th position, and they would forfeit the four points gained against them, representing one of merely two victories recorded following the new year.
Blackpool emerge as the main beneficiaries here. Having collected no points from City, they suffered relegation beneath Wolves and Birmingham, both of whom managed to extract some reward from Roberto Mancini's side.
The alternative standings, excluding City's fixtures, would see Birmingham relegated by a solitary goal on goal difference, rather than the single point which condemned them in reality. There's additionally a Champions League qualifying position for Spurs and a Europa League place for Liverpool, while Aston Villa and Sunderland both tumble several positions in the mid-table scramble.
Removing City's results from the 2011/12 campaign produces a considerably less dramatic concluding matchday. In this scenario, the championship has been settled well in advance, while QPR and Bolton have both already secured their top-flight status.
The most intriguing change takes place in the Champions League positions, with Spurs surpassing Arsenal to claim a comfortable second place behind Manchester United. Both would qualify for Europe's premier competition, with Newcastle the side excluded by Chelsea's Champions League final triumph against Bayern Munich.
Everton frequently claimed points against City during the Mancini era, though dropping those results would not have significantly damaged their standing. The 2012/13 campaign proves an exception, however, with City's demotion enabling Liverpool to pip their rivals on goal difference to secure a Europa League berth.
Above them, Spurs would clinch Champions League football with second-placed City removed from the equation. In the relegation battle, 18th-placed Wigan would leap a position, earning themselves survival alongside the jubilation of their FA Cup triumph at City's expense.
This represents the second occasion in this period where we would see a different title winner, with Liverpool claiming the crown. Arsenal, rather than Chelsea, would emerge as their nearest challengers, with the Blues forfeiting their two victories over City, while Tim Sherwood's Spurs are bumped up into the Champions League places.
Luka Modric for Tottenham.
Tottenham missed out as a result of Manchester City. (Image: Getty Images)
At the opposite end of the table, Norwich would escape relegation, albeit by the narrowest of margins, dropping the point gained from their goalless stalemate against Manuel Pellegrini's side. Sunderland, frequent point-takers against City during this period, slip several places to 16th but retain their top-flight status.
In 2014/15, Spurs secure yet another Champions League qualification, climbing from fifth to fourth. Swansea also benefit, earning a European play-off position as they advance one place to seventh.
At the foot of the table, Hull are handed a lifeline, finishing a comfortable five points ahead of Burnley once the Clarets' four points against City are stripped away. This ranks among the campaigns least influenced by City's outcomes.
Leicester's extraordinary title triumph remains intact without their four points against Pellegrini's squad, while Arsenal and Spurs maintain their positions behind the Foxes.
Just two particularly significant alterations emerge. Louis van Gaal's Manchester United would edge into the Champions League places, while Rafa Benitez and Newcastle would avoid the drop, with City relegated to bottom spot.
Arsenal will feel hard done by to have narrowly missed Champions League qualification in reality. In this scenario, however, Arsene Wenger's outfit leapfrog City and also overtake a Liverpool team who claimed points from Pep Guardiola's side during the Catalan's maiden campaign in England.
Hull City secure survival for the second occasion with just 34 points. More unexpectedly, though, Bournemouth rise several positions and claim European football despite collecting only 46 points from their 38 fixtures.
Predictably for a campaign where City amassed 100 points, the alterations here are minimal. Runners-up Manchester United ascend to first position, while Antonio Conte's Chelsea move into the fourth Champions League berth.
Everton would also claim a European place, despite forfeiting the point they earned at the Etihad Stadium in August. At the foot of the table, Swansea would accompany Huddersfield in staying up with only 28 goals netted, edging Stoke on goal difference.
As demonstrated, the headline alterations concern those three City championships. The revised tables would deliver two additional titles for Manchester United - one during Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure and another under Jose Mourinho - alongside one for Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool.
At the lower end of the table, Hull stand as the sole club who would secure not one but two escapes from the drop. Yet the most significant casualties of City's outcomes are Tottenham, who would win four extra Champions League qualifications.
Naturally, this remains an inexact exercise, considering the numerous variables involved. It's also important to acknowledge that City regard the matter as far from concluded, though it remains fascinating for supporters to think about what could have transpired.