Paul Scholes feels Manchester City should be punished with a points deduction if they are found guilty of financial mismanagement in their legal battle with the Premier League
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Manchester City
Manchester City have been accused of financial mismanagement by the Premier League
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Paul Scholes believes Manchester City will have to be hit with a points deduction if they are found guilty of the financial breaches which have been alleged by the Premier League, with a verdict in the champions' case expected soon.
City have been embroiled in a long-running legal battle with the Premier League over multiple breaches of their financial regulations across a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018. The charges, which amount to 130 in total, were first levied against them more than two years ago. An independent tribunal will soon deliver their verdict following a 12-week hearing which concluded in December. City have maintained their innocence throughout the process and insist they have a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence".
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A wide range of sanctions have been discussed by people outside of the process. But Scholes has said any potential sanction must be in line with those received by Everton and Nottingham Forest after being pushed for his view in the most recent episode of The Overlap Fan Debate.
The Manchester United icon said: "It’s hard to say what would be a fair punishment for Manchester City if they were found guilty – just as long as it’s fair.
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"Nottingham Forest and Everton have had punishments as well, so as long as it’s along those fair lines. I’m not saying it has to be the same as Everton and Forest, but I think it will be points."
Both Forest and Everton have been hit with points deductions for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules in recent seasons, though City's alleged breaches span over a number of different seasons.
Paul Scholes speaking on The Overlap
Paul Scholes feels a points deduction would be needed if City are found guilty
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Football finance expert Kieran Maguire recently gave his verdict on the situation. He also suggested a points deduction and applied the sanctions imposed on Everton as an example, but he went one further by predicting that a relegation-inducing points deduction.
"A points deduction would be the most likely outcome should the club be found guilty," he explained on BBC Radio 5 Live.
"As for the quantum of points deduction, if Everton were initially given a 10 points deduction for going around about £10/12 million over the limits in one particular season, I think, in order to set an example to the rest of football, it's got to act as a deterrent."
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