Manchester City face a points deduction as the most likely punishment after being found guilty on the vast majority of their 115 charges concerning financial irregularities, according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire.
The eight-time Premier League champions and their supporters are nervously awaiting sanction decisions from the league, even with an appeal expected to follow the guilty findings.
Disciplinary options available to the Premier League panel range from financial penalties and points deductions to the revocation of previous titles or total expulsion from the league. Relegation could also come into play if Manchester City are handed a heavy points deduction during the current season.
Speaking on TalkTV, Maguire stated that a points deduction represents the most probable outcome based on recent Premier League enforcement actions. "There is no doubt a points deduction would be the most likely outcome in the view of many," Maguire said. "We have seen them before for Nottingham Forest and Everton for breach of the financial limit rules. So that is feasible."
The Premier League enforces Profitability and Sustainability Rules to cap allowable financial losses for member clubs. Both Nottingham Forest and Everton received points deductions during the 2023-24 season after being found in breach of these financial limits over a three-year assessment period.
Maguire noted that regulatory rules grant disciplinary panels wide latitude when deciding penalties for financial breaches. "If you take a look at the Premier League handbook," Maguire added, "it says the recommendations are as broad based as you want them to be. Anything from a fine, to a points deduction, to expulsion from the league."
Maguire indicated that retrospective title penalties also remain a possibility under league rules. "Also, it could be that the titles won during that period will be taken away, though you can't retrospectively have the joy that winning a match and title brings from a fans' perspective," Maguire said.
Potential Title Reallocation and Player Reactions
If Manchester City are stripped of titles won during the period covered by the charges, several competing clubs could see their major honours tally increase, with Manchester United and Liverpool set to benefit.
Former Manchester United players have taken to social media to suggest they should be credited with additional trophy wins. Former United goalkeeper David De Gea posted on X: "So…… Let's talk. How many Premier League titles have I won then?"
De Gea played for Manchester United from 2011 to 2023, winning the Premier League title in the 2012-13 season. Manchester United finished second in the Premier League in the 2011-12 season when De Gea joined the club, were runners-up again in the 2017-18 campaign when he played 37 of 38 league games, and finished second in the 2020-21 season with the Spaniard featuring in 26 league matches.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was also keen to state his case on social media, posting on X: "Another Premier League medal to be added to the cabinet."
Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho similarly highlighted the potential for retrospective league titles in comments made in 2024. "We won the Europa League and finished second in the Premier League. I think we still have a chance to win that league," Mourinho said. "Maybe they punish Manchester City with points, we win that league. And then they have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal."
Mourinho managed Manchester United from 2016 to 2018, leading the club to a second-place finish behind Manchester City in the 2017-18 Premier League campaign with 81 points while City accumulated 100 points.
Historical Precedents and Financial Claims
Observers have likened Manchester City's situation to the severe disciplinary measures imposed on Italian club Juventus two decades ago. In 2006, Juventus were relegated, given a 30-point deduction, and stripped of two top-division titles after being found involved in conduct amounting to sporting fraud.
The 2006 scandal in Italian football, known as Calciopoli, involved club executives influencing referee selection for matches, resulting in Juventus being stripped of their 2004-05 and 2005-06 Serie A titles.
Beyond the loss of silverware, a wider legal and financial battle could emerge as rival clubs seek compensation for missed trophies, European qualification, and prize money.
Maguire warned of a separate wave of financial claims from affected clubs. "Then there is a separate issue where clubs who have lost out on titles could put in financial compensation for not getting into Europe," Maguire added. "For loss of prize money."
Maguire cited a recent legal precedent within English football involving Everton and Burnley. "We do have a precedent where Everton were told they had to give Burnley £35million for a single breach in a single season," Maguire added.
Burnley pursued financial compensation after Everton were found guilty of financial rule breaches during the 2021-22 season. Burnley argued that Everton avoided relegation from the Premier League as a result of their breach, directly causing Burnley's relegation to the Championship and subsequent loss of Premier League broadcasting revenues.
Trophies at Risk and Second-Place Finishers
Manchester City accumulated an extensive collection of silverware during the period under investigation, with various clubs finishing as runners-up across domestic and European competitions.
In the Premier League, Manchester United finished second to City in three seasons: 2011-12, 2017-18, and 2020-21. Liverpool finished as runners-up in three campaigns: 2013-14, 2018-19, and 2021-22. Arsenal finished second in the 2022-23 Premier League season.
In the FA Cup, Stoke City were runners-up to Manchester City in the 2010-11 season, Watford finished second in 2018-19, and Manchester United were runners-up in 2022-23.
In the League Cup, runners-up behind Manchester City include Sunderland in 2013-14, Liverpool in 2015-16, Arsenal in 2017-18, Chelsea in 2018-19, Aston Villa in 2019-20, and Tottenham Hotspur in 2020-21.
In European competition, Italian club Inter Milan finished as runners-up to Manchester City in the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League final.
