Manchester City were found guilty by the Premier League of breaching its financial rules over a nine-year period and if they are relegated to the EFL, then it could lead to a financial boost as a result
General view of Etihad Stadium during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland
General view of Etihad Stadium during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland in Manchester, United Kingdom, on September 20, 2026. (Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)(Image: Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes relegation to the EFL for Manchester City could help the Football League negotiate their next broadcasting deal.
City are yet to discover their punishment after the Premier League found them guilty of breaching its financial rules over a nine-year period from 2009-10 to 2017-18.
In an extraordinary statement released by the Premier League yesterday, City are alleged to have created "sham" contracts with commercial partners which overstated their income by nearly £900m.
City have denied wrongdoing and plan to appeal the outcome of the independent commission having been found guilty of 114 of 115 charges, 35 of which were related to non-cooperation with investigation.
Relegation to the Football League is a possible punishment with some critics claiming that they should be stuck in League Two.
Maguire says if City did find themselves back in the EFL then they could help them negotiate a new broadcast deal in the future that would impact Derby County and the other 72 clubs.
"In the Leicester City case, the commission made a recommendation, and the Premier League and the EFL now do have a sort of a channel through which they will they will opt to consider punishments given by each other's board," he told the BBC.
"While the EFL does not have to take the recommendation of the Premier League Commission, there's nothing to stop it from saying, yes we've heard it, we've spoken to our members and we think that relegation to League Two, is an appropriate punishment, it would be in the EFL's interests with Manchester City in the EFL that's going to help them negotiate their next broadcasting deal, and Manchester City in League Two is going to be the biggest show in town, in the EFL for three seasons.
"If you talk to EFL club owners, some of them will say 'well that's going to impact upon the ability of my club to be promoted from League Two', but others will say 'this is our biggest payday of the season, bring it on'.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher says City should be stripped of the titles they won during that period, but also claims the owners must also pay the price.
"The club are going to get punished," he said. "You've got supporters, players, the club and owners. For me this is all about the owners, the people who are at the top of the club.
"Man City are a wonderful club and have been for a hundred years and will be for hundreds of years going forward. But in terms of what we're finding out now, I don't know how the owners can continue in English football.
"We talk about a fit and proper test for owners. What they've done for 10 years - and left this stain that will be there for the next 10 years - it starts because they don't like the word no. When you see the statements - the one from [CEO Ferran] Soriano last night - it's beggars belief what you're hearing.
"They have so much power and finance behind them, nobody ever tells them no. Until they move away from the club, I don't know how this stain is removed from the club.
"City will move on - they will have great teams in the future. But I don't see how the ownership can continue after what's happened here and their reaction to it. How can they be surprised? They've got irrefutable evidence - well where is it? Put it out there."