Stripping Man City of Premier League titles 'unlikely' as new charges punishment theory given

· Mirror

Manchester City won four Premier League titles during the nine-year period in which they have been accused of breaching financial rules

Manchester City have been found guilty of alleged financial rule breaches, but are unlikely to have Premier League titles stripped, it has been claimed. On Friday evening, it emerged through media reports that the club had breached 114 of the 115 financial rules they had been accused of by the Premier League.

Multiple punishment theories have since been given with that ranging from a major fine to a significant points deduction that would essentially relegate them from the Premier League. City have won the title eight times in their history with half of those coming between 2009 and 2018, which is the period of the alleged rule breaches.

Despite gaining a potential advantage over rivals in those title-winning campaigns, City are unlikely to be stripped of that silverware, according to The Times.

Liverpool, and Manchester United finished runners-up to City twice while Arsenal could argue past success impacted the two seasons in which they came second to Pep Guardiola's side.

The latter left the club over the summer but made it clear he had been told by higher-ups that they were not guilty. City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023 with an eight-week hearing taking place just over 18 months later.

The outcome of that has now been discovered but the case is far from over with it understood that City will be launching an appeal against the ruling.

Everton and Nottingham Forest were docked points for just one breach which suggests that for allegedly breaking 114 financial rules, the punishment will be severe. City have denied the charges against them throughout the process and released a statement in the wake of the guilty verdict emerging.

Via a spokesperson, that read:

> "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 that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence."

City have have been cleared of at least one charge, with The Financial Times reporting it was among the most serious alleged violations levelled against the club.

The club will be hopeful that their appeal yields some success, while other Premier League sides are watching the outcome closely before pursuing potential legal action, according to The Athletic. Their report suggests a class action against City remains a possibility should affected Premier League clubs unite in their efforts.

United, in particular, have been weighing up their own options for some time, examining the impact of City's alleged financial misconduct on their own achievements, according to a separate report from The Athletic.

What will unfold over the months ahead remains uncertain, with the extended international break leaving City without a fixture for a fortnight, and Enzo Maresca set to avoid the press for at least 10 days.

That opening encounter is against Liverpool at Anfield, with the long-standing rivalry between the two clubs during the period in which City's alleged rule violations occurred adding an extra edge to the fixture.

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