Man City face having three Premier League titles from 2009/10 to 2017/18 stripped after guilty verdict
An independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules between 2009/10 and 2017/18. Sanctions will be decided at a further hearing, and City, who deny the breaches, will appeal.
- Verdict: Independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules between 2009/10 and 2017/18.
- Trophies in scope: Three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups and one Community Shield.
- Sanctions: To be addressed in a further hearing with the independent commission and Man City.
- Appeal deadline: Friday, October 2.
- Possible sanctions: Points deductions, fines, transfer bans and expulsion from the Premier League.
- Key question: Whether City's titles and trophies would be awarded to the runners-up, left vacant, or expunged entirely.
What would happen to the Premier League titles?
Manchester City won three Premier League titles in the period in question. They beat Manchester United to the 2012 crown on the final day through Sergio Aguero's famous winner, then won the league by two points over Liverpool in 2014 before setting a new record in 2018 by amassing 100 points to deny United again.
If the titles were awarded simply to the runners-up, Manchester United would be handed two — one each for Sir Alex Ferguson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer — taking the club's Premier League total to 15, and Liverpool one, their second under Jurgen Klopp.
However, stripping City of their titles would not necessarily mean rewriting the league tables and promoting every club below them by one place. Instead, the titles could remain vacant, as when Juventus were stripped of the 2004/05 Serie A title for their involvement in the Calciopoli doping scandal and it was left unassigned.
What if Man City's record was expunged?
Another option could be to expunge City's league record — removing their results — between 2009/10 and 2017/18. That would impact teams' points totals and even their finishing positions, although Manchester United and Liverpool would still replace them as title winners.
Blackpool, in the 2010/11 season, are the only club across the nine seasons that would technically have avoided relegation if City's results were removed, at Wolves' expense.
European qualification fallout
In four of the nine seasons that City have been found guilty of financial breaches, Everton missed out on European football because City finished above them in the Premier League. In a fifth season, 2013/14, Everton finished fifth and qualified for the Europa League, when the top four — including champions City — qualified for the Champions League.
Tottenham, meanwhile, did not qualify for the Champions League in four seasons during the period because City finished above them in the table. In each of those seasons, they played in the Europa League instead.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea missed out on Champions League football because City finished above them during the seasons in focus. Liverpool, Manchester United, Swansea and Southampton were denied European qualification because City finished above them.
And what about the cups?
Tony Pulis was managing Stoke City when Manchester City beat them in the 2011 FA Cup final, winning their first major trophy in 35 years, and said he feels "cheated".
City also won three League Cups, beating Sunderland in 2014, Liverpool in 2016 and Arsenal in 2018, as well as Chelsea in the 2012 Community Shield.
Sunderland have not won a trophy since the 1973 FA Cup, while Klopp was denied his first piece of silverware when City won on penalties at Wembley and Arsene Wenger was prevented from bowing out in style in his final season at Arsenal.
What was said
"cheated"
Pulis's word carries weight because Stoke's defeat denied the club a first major trophy in 35 years, and it frames the wider argument that stripping titles is not merely an administrative exercise. The ripple effects reach clubs and managers who had no part in the breaches.
Jamie Carragher has called for Manchester City to be stripped of their titles after the guilty verdict. That view is now central to the debate, though the independent commission has yet to decide on sanctions and City will appeal.
Why the punishment decision is so complicated
City's dominance between 2009/10 and 2017/18 did not just decide title races; it reshaped the financial and competitive landscape for a generation of clubs. Manchester United would be the biggest on-field beneficiaries if runners-up were promoted, moving to 15 Premier League titles and handing Ferguson and Solskjaer retrospective crowns. Liverpool would gain one, a second under Klopp. But reallocating titles retrospectively is fraught: it would require the commission to decide whether to promote runners-up, leave titles vacant, or expunge results entirely.
The expunging route is the most complex. Removing City's results would change points tallies and final standings, and the source states that Blackpool in 2010/11 are the only club across the nine seasons who would technically have avoided relegation, at Wolves' expense. That single example shows how far the consequences could stretch beyond the title race.
European qualification is where the impact is most tangled. Everton missed out on Europe in four of the nine seasons because City finished above them, and in 2013/14 they finished fifth and qualified for the Europa League when the top four included champions City. Tottenham missed Champions League football in four seasons because City finished above them and dropped into the Europa League instead. Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea also missed Champions League football because City finished above them, while Liverpool, Manchester United, Swansea and Southampton were denied European qualification because City finished above them. Any retrospective fix would have to account for all of it.
The cup competitions add another layer. City's 2011 FA Cup win over Stoke came in Pulis's side's first major final in 35 years. City's League Cup wins over Sunderland in 2014, Liverpool in 2016 and Arsenal in 2018, plus the 2012 Community Shield against Chelsea, all denied opponents silverware. Sunderland have not won a trophy since the 1973 FA Cup, Klopp was denied his first piece of silverware when City won on penalties at Wembley, and Wenger was prevented from bowing out in style in his final season at Arsenal.
Talking points
- Should the 2012, 2014 and 2018 Premier League titles be handed to Manchester United and Liverpool, or left vacant as Juventus' 2004/05 Serie A crown was?
- Would expunging City's results be fairer than simply promoting runners-up, given it could alter relegation outcomes such as Blackpool surviving at Wolves' expense?
- Everton, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea all lost European places to City — can any retrospective sanction truly compensate them?
- Stoke's Tony Pulis says he feels "cheated" — should cup runners-up be awarded trophies too, or is that a step too far?
What happens next
Manchester City have confirmed they will appeal against the ruling and have until Friday, October 2 to do so. Sanctions — which could include points deductions, fines, transfer bans and expulsion from the Premier League — will be addressed in a further hearing with the independent commission. The question of whether titles and trophies are stripped will be settled in that process, not on the pitch.
Frequently asked questions
Will Manchester City be stripped of their Premier League titles?
It is a possibility. The independent commission found City guilty of all charges, and sanctions will be addressed in a further hearing. Possible sanctions include points deductions, fines, transfer bans and expulsion, but stripping titles is one option being discussed.
If Man City lose their titles, who would be awarded the 2012, 2014 and 2018 Premier League wins?
If the titles were awarded simply to the runners-up, Manchester United would be handed two — for 2012 and 2018 — and Liverpool one for 2014. However, the titles could instead remain vacant, as happened with Juventus' 2004/05 Serie A title.
When is Man City's appeal deadline?
Manchester City have confirmed they will appeal against the ruling and have until Friday, October 2 to do so.
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