“I do expect them to appeal and contrary to reports my gut feeling is that the process could be drawn out for quite some time.
“I think it’s pointless stripping them of titles that they’ve already won as the runners-up won’t feel any sense of satisfaction being given a title years later. The fans, players and staff never had the feeling or experience of winning said titles so it’s pointless to me.” Premier League sanctions now take centre stage With the verdict stage reportedly nearing resolution, focus has shifted from whether City could be found liable to what happens next. A punishment of this magnitude would carry legal, sporting and commercial implications, and there is an expectation that any decision will be challenged. Those close to the situation have long anticipated an appeal if the outcome went against City. Given the value of the issues at stake, both in financial and reputational terms, that would be no surprise. It also means any final outcome could take considerable time to arrive, leaving uncertainty hanging over the club, the league and rival teams. One argument emerging from the debate is that retrospective title stripping would offer little practical value. The logic is straightforward. Reallocating honours years after the event does not recreate the moment for players, supporters or staff who did not experience those triumphs in real time. It may satisfy a formal need for record correction, but it cannot replicate what was lost on the pitch and in the stands. That line of thinking is likely to be part of the wider conversation as the Premier League weighs symbolic punishment against measures that have immediate sporting bite. Relegation and transfer ban seen as strongest options If the league wants to send the clearest possible message, relegation would be the most dramatic sanction available. It would represent a historic step and one that would shake the competitive landscape of English football. It would also underline that the regulatory framework applies to every club, regardless of wealth, success or global profile. A transfer ban is also viewed as a realistic option in any package of punishment. Restricting squad-building would affect City’s ability to refresh and reinforce, and that could have consequences over more than one season. Combined with a major fine, it would amount to a three-part sanction designed to hit sporting performance, future planning and finances all at once. There is, however, a balancing act. The Premier League will be aware that one of its flagship clubs being removed from the top division would affect broadcasting, commercial appeal and overall competition. That consideration may not dictate the outcome, but it will form part of the internal calculation. For that reason, an alternative scenario remains plausible, a substantial points deduction, potentially large enough to effectively relegate City through league position, plus a significant financial penalty and a transfer ban lasting one or two windows, or longer. That route would still be severe while allowing the punishment to be framed within familiar disciplinary tools. The Premier League has precedent for points deductions in financial cases. Everton were docked 10 points in November 2023 for a breach of Profitability and Sustainability Rules, a figure later reduced to six on appeal. A further two-point deduction followed in April 2024 for another breach. Nottingham Forest were also hit with a four-point deduction in March 2024, a sanction that was upheld. Those cases were serious in their own context, but the City matter is on a different scale entirely, both in volume of charges and in profile. Manchester City stance remains unchanged City’s public position has remained firm. In their latest statement, the club said: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023. “The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.” The message from the club hierarchy has also sought to reassure supporters that confidence remains high internally. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak addressed fans directly, emphasising that the process still has a distance to run and that the club’s belief in its own position has not weakened. That is an important part of the story. Whatever the reported verdict, City are clearly preparing for the next legal phase. They do not appear ready to concede any ground, and there is little expectation this will end quickly. Wider impact on Liverpool and title rivals For Liverpool and other clubs who competed against City during the relevant period, the case inevitably raises uncomfortable questions about competitive integrity. Liverpool were City’s closest domestic challengers for much of that era and twice finished with more than 90 points without winning the title. There is no simple remedy for that. If sanctions arrive now, they will shape the future more than the past. That is why the strongest punishments under discussion focus on league status, recruitment restrictions and financial penalties, rather than rewriting old tables. The timing also adds extra intrigue. City’s next major Premier League fixture after the international break is away at Liverpool, a contest that will now be played against the backdrop of unprecedented scrutiny. By then, the noise around the 115 charges case may be even louder, especially if the Premier League begins to indicate the direction of travel on punishment. For now, the central issue is no longer whether this story matters. It is how hard the Premier League is willing to go if the reported findings are confirmed, and how long the appeal process keeps one of the biggest cases in English football history unresolved. Further details are likely to emerge as the case develops, with the current picture shaped by the latest reporting around the verdict and sanction process, as outlined here.
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