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Two senior executives from Premier League clubs have shared the chances of Manchester City being expelled from the league.
City have been found guilty of 114 charges by the Premier League for financial breaches between 2009 and 2018, having been found to have artificially inflated their revenue and reduced costs by over £900m, in order to comply with FFP rules and UEFA limits.
After the guilty verdicts were handed down, speculation over what the sanctions would be has been rife. Relegation, fines, transfer bans, points deductions, and even being kicked out of football entirely has been mooted, but there is nothing official at this stage.
Another situation that has been mentioned has been expulsion from the Premier League, with a number of clubs already reserving their right to take legal action ahead of sanctions being handed down.
For that to happen, a Premier League meeting would need to be held which would see a vote, with at least 15 clubs needing to vote for them to be kicked out. A points deduction that almost guarantees relegation to the Championship is something that has been mentioned, but Championship clubs are understood to be against that as it would hold no benefit to the league.
Premier League Executive: Kicking Man City Out 'Self-Inflicted Disaster'
REUTERS/Molly Darlington
But in a surprise development, two top Premier League executives have told Sky Sports News that they would be stunned if there were 15 clubs willing to vote in favour of expelling City for these breaches, due to the financial implications it would have on the rest of the league.
The executives, who were speaking anonymously, revealed that they would be "staggered" and "amazed" if City were expelled, and compared it to "cutting your nose off to spite your face."
"If Man City were expelled, that would have massive commercial consequences for everyone in the league, and ultimately it would cost the other clubs an awful lot of money," they said.
He also went on to explain that City being kicked out this season or next could mean that only 19 clubs are able to fulfill their fixtures, which could lead to broadcasters in the UK and abroad seeking refunds on their television deals due to the reduction in fixtures.
City's exit from the league would also call into question the future of star players such as Erling Haaland, who has been linked to Arsenal and Real Madrid, or Phil Foden. Should they leave, there is no guarantee they would stay in the Premier League, and that is described as "a risk not worth taking."
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Premier League Executives Not in Agreement
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While the two anonymous executives feel that it wouldn't be ideal for City to be kicked out of the league, that feeling isn't unanimous.
It's believed that keeping City in the division could be seen as damaging to the brand and integrity of the league, and that an extended break from the competition would be good for everyone, even if it means there is short-term financial pain in the process.
The differences of opinion within Premier League clubs will not affect the independent commission's decision, but it could be a factor if the clubs are forced to vote on City's possible expulsion.
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland