Premier League has no appetite to strip Manchester City of titles despite guilty verdict
The Premier League and its clubs have shown little desire to retrospectively strip Manchester City of the eight trophies won between 2009 and 2018, BBC Sport understands. However, an independent panel's upcoming sanction hearing means a points deduction, huge fine or even expulsion remain more likely outcomes.
- Verdict: Manchester City found guilty of the majority of 115 charges for breaching Premier League financial rules.
- Trophies at risk: Eight major honours won between 2009 and 2018, including three Premier League titles.
- Premier League stance: Little appetite within the organisation and clubs to strip past titles.
- Likely sanctions: Points deduction, huge fine or possible expulsion from the Premier League.
- Next step: Independent panel to hold a sanction hearing; decision yet to be made.
The titles that could be affected
Should the independent panel decide to strip City of their honours, the Premier League titles from 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2017-18 would be in scope, along with the FA Cup from 2010-11, the EFL Cup from 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18, and the Community Shield from 2012-13.
The runners-up who could theoretically be awarded those trophies are: Manchester United (Premier League 2011-12 and 2017-18), Liverpool (Premier League 2013-14), Stoke City (FA Cup 2010-11), Sunderland (EFL Cup 2013-14), Liverpool (EFL Cup 2015-16), Arsenal (EFL Cup 2017-18) and Chelsea (Community Shield 2012-13).
Such a move would open a can of worms, raising questions over other clubs' accomplishments. For instance, scepticism now surrounds Chelsea's trophies in the 2010s after they were found to have made secret payments to agents over transfers between 2011 and 2018. Some will ask whether retrospective action should apply equally to Chelsea if it is applied to City.
It is impossible to know to what extent City benefited on the field from their rule breaches, or which players they might not have been able to afford had they adhered to regulations. The period between December 2018 and February 2023, when City stand accused of failing to co-operate with Premier League investigations, adds another layer. Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool finished runners-up to Pep Guardiola's City twice during that time, and the German previously joked he would host a party in his garden if his former club were awarded those titles.
Precedents for stripping titles
While there is no Premier League precedent, other football authorities have applied retrospective punishments. Juventus had their Serie A titles from 2005 and 2006 revoked following the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal, which saw five Italian teams penalised for attempting to influence results by selecting certain referees. The first title was left blank, while the second was reallocated to Inter Milan.
In Britain, Elgin City won the 1992-93 Highland League but were later stripped of the title after being found to have fielded ineligible players. Other sports provide examples: Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles by the UCI in 2012 for doping, and medal reallocation has become common in athletics following positive drugs tests that emerge long after events.
What was said
"I think we still have a chance to win that league… and then they have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal."
"What we did, they cannot take out of us. It's something that is not paid by money. It's paid with effort, with the damage, with, you know, being shoulder to shoulder every day. I can tell you that everything was deserved, and I'm glad that I could live one of the best eras of English football in here."
Mourinho's comments, made during his time as Manchester United manager, highlighted the possibility that his former club could be awarded the 2018 title if City were punished. United finished second to City by 19 points that season. Rodri's response, meanwhile, reflects the view within the City camp that their achievements on the pitch were earned and cannot be erased by off-field rulings.
Compensation claims more likely than title stripping
Several clubs are known to be considering launching compensation claims against City for lost earnings, and these are seen as more likely than the stripping of titles. A lawyer told BBC Sport: "The question isn't whether the clubs can take legal action... it's: Where does the line of people who have a case actually end? The clubs who didn't win/qualify/stay up; the players who didn't get bonuses, contract extensions; the staff who missed out on bonuses; the agents who didn't get their uplift on their player deals... It's endless and potentially so destructive to the whole ecosystem."
Whatever the outcome, more division and disruption appears guaranteed. The independent panel's sanction hearing will determine the final punishment, with the Premier League's apparent reluctance to strip titles not ruling out that possibility entirely.
Analysis: Why the Premier League's stance matters
The Premier League's lack of appetite for retrospectively stripping titles reflects a pragmatic concern for the competition's commercial reputation and historical integrity. Reallocating honours across multiple seasons would raise awkward questions about other clubs' past conduct, notably Chelsea's secret payments, potentially triggering a chain of retrospective action that could destabilise the league's entire record book.
From a sporting perspective, Rodri's defence that achievements are earned on the pitch resonates with many players and fans, but it clashes with the principle that rules must be enforced to maintain fair competition. The independent panel now faces a delicate balancing act: imposing a sanction severe enough to deter future breaches without undermining the league's credibility or opening endless legal challenges.
A points deduction or fine would punish City without rewriting history, but critics argue it fails to address the competitive advantage gained during the period in question. Expulsion, while severe, would be a forward-looking penalty rather than a retrospective one. The panel's decision will set a precedent for how financial rule breaches are handled in English football, with clubs, players and agents all watching closely.
Talking points
- Should Manchester City be stripped of titles if the panel deems it necessary, or does that punish innocent players and fans?
- If City are punished retrospectively, should Chelsea face the same treatment for their secret payments between 2011 and 2018?
- Would a points deduction or fine be sufficient to deter future financial rule breaches, or does it let City off lightly?
- Are compensation claims from rival clubs a more effective route to justice than title reallocation?
What happens next
The independent panel will hold a sanction hearing to determine the punishment for Manchester City. A points deduction, heavy fine or even expulsion from the Premier League are considered more likely than the stripping of titles, but the panel has the power to impose a penalty as it sees fit. The decision could have far-reaching consequences for the club, the league and the broader landscape of English football.
Frequently asked questions
Will Manchester City be stripped of their Premier League titles?
There is little appetite within the Premier League to strip past titles, but the independent panel's sanction hearing has not yet taken place, so it cannot be completely ruled out.
What punishments could Manchester City face?
A points deduction, huge fine or possibly even expulsion from the Premier League are thought to be more likely than title stripping.
Which trophies could Manchester City lose?
The eight trophies won between 2009 and 2018: Premier League titles in 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2017-18, FA Cup in 2010-11, EFL Cup in 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18, and Community Shield in 2012-13.
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