Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes
Information about the punishment Manchester City will face for breaking Premier League rules has reportedly emerged. The English club are expected to face huge sanctions after being found guilty of all charges.
An independent Commission confirmed the decision in September, stating that Man City had arranged ‘sham’ contracts to inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs artificially. The club concealed the true state of their finances and then failed to co-operate with the Premier League’s investigation.
City have appealed the ruling, but if that is unsuccessful, they will likely face an unprecedented punishment. Amid speculation about what exactly that might be, one football presenter has potentially leaked the sanctions.
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes
Alan Brazil Reveals What He's Heard About Man City Sanctions
REUTERS/Phil Noble
The claim comes from TalkSport host Alan Brazil. Speaking about the matter, he claimed that a points deduction is on the cards, revealing:
"I’m hearing a 60-point deduction, which will please people and still give City a chance of surviving.
"I don’t know whether it’s this season. I can’t see how that can be this season because of the timing, when they get it through it’ll be too late. "Is it next season? But they are talking about a 60-point deduction."
As a qualifier to his own comments, Brazil then went on to add that what he had been told could simply be 'nonsense'.
Ally McCoist Claims Touted Punishment Not Severe Enough
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Many people may well look at a 60-point deduction as not nearly enough of a punishment. It was unclear if this would be the only action Man City will face, or if there would be other sanctions for the Etihad club to deal with.
For example, there has been a great deal of talk about the side being stripped of the three Premier League titles they won between 2009 and 2018. On top of that, a large fine and a transfer ban also seem justifiable given the scale of the rule-breaking.
Echoing this sentiment, Brazil's co-host Ally McCoist questioned the strength of a 60-point penalty. He suggested many fans will expect a strong punishment, replying:
"I think a lot of people wouldn’t think that’s enough. Obviously we’ll have to wait and see how this appeal goes.
"If they didn’t win the appeal, I think people would be looking for a stronger punishment than that."
He pointed out that this wouldn't even guarantee relegation, noting: "I'm not sure it would guarantee (relegation). You'd have to say it probably would (mean City were relegated). If you're staying up with maybe 37, 38, 39 points, it would make it a challenge, put it that way."
Some believe Man City should not be hit with a points deduction, but instead just be banished from the Premier League altogether. This could mean starting at the bottom of the English footballing pyramid. It's also unclear if their current owners would be allowed to maintain control of the club, or if a sale would be forced.