Manchester City Relegation Expected by Rivals in 115-Charge Case

Manchester City's rivals expect relegation after 115-charge guilty verdict

Manchester City's Premier League rivals do not expect them to be in the top flight next season after an independent commission found them guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League rules across nine seasons. City's appeal and sanctions hearing will take place before Christmas.

Verdict: Manchester City found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League rules
Period: Rule breaking carried out across nine seasons, distorting the competition
Next step: Appeal and sanctions hearing before Christmas
Possible sanction: Rivals believe a points deduction lasting only one season would be insufficient
Panel: Same three-person panel that heard the 42-day hearing in 2024 will decide sanctions
Timeline: Clubs braced for the dispute to run until at least next year

What was said

"Sympathy is in short supply at other clubs after an independent commission laid bare the scale of Manchester City's rule breaking across nine seasons in a devastating decision published last week."
— Sky Sports report, on the reaction of rival clubs

"The punishment should fit the crime."
— Rival clubs in England and across Europe, on the appropriate sanction for Manchester City

"The consensus appears to be that rules have to be respected by all clubs, no matter their size or status - and it would not be sufficient to hand City a punishment that would last only one season for rules which were broken across multiple seasons."
— Sky Sports report, on the view of Premier League rivals

"A comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists."
— Manchester City, in their appeal lodged against the decision

City are adamant they have done nothing wrong, insisting they are innocent and that the evidence supports their position. But even a cursory reading of the decision published by the independent disciplinary commission puts into sharp focus the scale of the task facing City's lawyers when the appeal hearing takes place before Christmas.

Their rivals in England and across Europe believe the punishment should fit the crime, and the consensus is that rules must be respected by all clubs regardless of size or status. A sanction lasting only one season for rule breaking across multiple seasons is viewed as insufficient.

The numbers

More than 100: breaches of Premier League rules City were found guilty of
Nine seasons: the period over which the rule breaking was carried out
42 days: the length of the original hearing in 2024
12 points: the deduction the Premier League argued Everton deserved for one breach of Profitability and Sustainability Rules in 2023
10 points: Everton's original sanction before appeal
6 points: Everton's final deduction after they appealed the original sanction
Three: the number of people on the panel that heard the evidence and delivered the core decision

Why City's rivals believe a one-season punishment is not enough

The scale of the rule breaking is about as serious as it gets when it comes to financial regulations. Because it was carried out over nine seasons and distorted the competition, City's rivals are not expecting them to be playing in the Premier League next season. Many believe that a points deduction is not a sufficient punishment if it would lead to City spending just one season outside the top flight.

It is only natural for clubs to think of their own self-interest. City's relegation would mean one fewer club going down this season, as well as removing one of the favourites from the title race and opening up another European place. Self-interest is not the over-riding consideration though, with the prevailing view that any punishment must reflect the fact that the breaches spanned multiple seasons.

With the looming prospect of City taking their bid to clear their name all the way to the High Court, rival clubs are becoming increasingly concerned about the damage being done to the image and integrity of the Premier League, the cost of the dispute and what they see as City's failure to take any responsibility or accountability for their actions.

Talking points

Should any sanction be measured in seasons rather than points, given the breaches spanned nine campaigns? A one-season relegation may feel like a light touch to rivals.
City's insistence on their innocence and their High Court threat raises a bigger question: who ultimately controls the Premier League's rulebook?
Everton's six-point deduction after appeal is a warning that even a 12-point recommendation can be halved — will that embolden City's legal team?
Self-interest is unavoidable: every relegation-threatened club has a vested interest in City going down, and every European hopeful wants the extra place.

What happens next

City's legal team are preparing for their appeal and sanctions hearing, which could take place before Christmas and may run while the appeal process continues. The same three-person panel that heard the 42-day hearing in 2024 and delivered its core decision will decide on sanctions after the Premier League, as prosecutors, put forward their recommendation and City's lawyers argue their case.

It will be down to the Premier League board to decide what recommended sanction their lawyers should present to the panel. Both sides are allowed to appeal the sanctions, and with City appealing the judgment, Premier League clubs are prepared for this marathon dispute to keep running until at least next year. Clubs have been trying to draw a line under the legal disputes which have become a feature of the English game as they try to move towards what some executives call "the NFL model" where the league speaks with one voice. That will not happen until the final chapter of the 115 charges case is finally written.

Frequently asked questions

Will Manchester City be relegated from the Premier League?

City's rivals do not expect them to be in the Premier League next season, with many believing a points deduction that leads to just one season outside the top flight would not be sufficient punishment.

When is Manchester City's appeal and sanctions hearing?

City's legal team are preparing for their appeal and sanctions hearing, which will take place before Christmas and could run while the appeal process continues.

Who decides Manchester City's punishment?

The same three-person panel which heard the evidence at the 42-day hearing in 2024 and delivered its core decision will decide on sanctions after the Premier League puts forward its recommendation and City's lawyers argue their case.