General view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at Etihad Stadium on February 23, 2025 in Manchester, England.General view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at Etihad Stadium on February 23, 2025 in Manchester, England.
General view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at Etihad Stadium on February 23, 2025 in Manchester, England. | Getty Images
A verdict on the 115 charges levelled at Manchester City by the Premier League is expected soon
Manchester City’s long-running battle with the Premier League is set to conclude with a verdict on the 115 charges the clubs is alleged to have breached expected soon. That is according to the Daily Mail, as City prepare to hear the conclusion of the charges levelled at them that allegedly took place over a period of nine years.
City have always maintained their innocence over the alleged charges, although they have also been charged with failure to co-operate with the Premier League’s investigation. The hearing took place between September and December last year in front of an independent panel. City denied all the allegations levelled at them.
City, if found guilty, have been told they could face severe punishment. However, City have also been told they cannot be officially relegated by the Premier League as they do not govern the EFL.
Finance expert explains why Premier League cannot relegate Man City
While City cannot be sent down the leagues by the Premier League, they can be handed a points deduction big enough that would effectively relegate them, if found guilty. That is according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire.
Maguire, speaking to the Manchester Evening News, says that different governance of the top flight and and the EFL means City cannot be sent down the divisions. He referenced Rangers’ demotion to the fourth tier of Scottish Football in 2012. The Ibrox club’s financial issues were behind that decision but the Scottish leagues are all governed by the same body, meaning they had the power to sanction such a decision.
Maguire said: "I don't think they can relegate the club as such, because this is a Premier League punishment. The Premier League doesn't control the EFL, so therefore the commission would have to set a tariff - a punishment that will be so severe in terms of points deductions that it would effectively guarantee relegation. But they can't do what we saw with Rangers and the SPFL and relegate them to League Two or similar."
It means, at worst, City could be handed a points deduction that would relegate them to the Championship. That, however, is only if they are to be found guilty.
What has Pep Guardiola said?
The verdict should come this month, after City boss Pep Guardiola said in early February that he expected the decision to be handed down in “one month”. The City boss said on February 7: "In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence. After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far."
In November, Guardiola re-iterated his desire to stay at the club even if City were handed a severe punishment over the alleged charges. He said: "I said six months ago, one year ago when all the clubs accused us of having done something - what happened if you got relegated? I will be here. I don't know the position of the conference they're going to bring us, we're going to come up and come up, we're going to come back to the Premier League. I knew it then, I feel it now."
Guardiola signed a new two-year deal with City back in November. He was won six Premier League titles and one Champions League since arriving in Manchester.
For your next read, see how Man City's final 9 Premier League games compared to Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa & more as they chase a top-four spot.
Related topics:Man CityRangersPremier League
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