The Premier League is expected to punish Manchester City with a hefty points deduction that would send the club down to the Championship, according to British newspaper Daily Mail.
Manchester City were found guilty of artificially inflating revenues by more than £900 million over almost a decade, in breach of the Premier League’s financial regulations.
In addition to a points deduction that would relegate City at the end of the season, the club is also expected to face a substantial fine. However, the punishment could go further, according to the British newspaper.
City could also face a further points deduction that would effectively keep the club in the Championship for at least another season. The English Football League (EFL) would not be obliged to accept such a sanction for one of its clubs, but would probably do so, the newspaper’s editor writes.
The Premier League is reportedly pushing for City’s punishment to be announced before the outcome of the club’s appeal, which is unlikely to be decided before the end of January.
The sanctions would allow Manchester City to begin a new chapter in their history. The question is whether that future will involve the club’s current owners.
The aim of the punishment should not be to penalise supporters, but rather the club’s owners, who were responsible for the breaches committed over an extended period.
If City’s appeal is rejected, it would be difficult to justify allowing Sheikh Mansour and his associates to remain in charge of the club without undermining the Premier League’s authority and credibility.