What Awaits Manchester City If Found Guilty?
The top English teams are gearing up for the new Premier League season. These teams are all eager to challenge Manchester City, the reigning champions who have dominated the league for four seasons, securing the title without interruption.
However, attention is also focused on the ongoing situation with Manchester City, who face allegations of 115 potential breaches of Premier League rules. It is anticipated that rulings on these charges could be delivered before the current season concludes.
Premier League Chairman Richard Masters recently stated that it's time to reach a decision on City's cases involving financial misconduct. He commented, "This has been going on for several years, and it’s evident that this matter needs to be resolved."
He further explained, "Once the case progresses and a verdict is issued, all the questions you've been asking will be answered."
Following Masters' remarks, there has been much speculation about the potential consequences for Manchester City, particularly among the heads of competing clubs in the league.
Predictions of severe penalties for Manchester City
According to "The Athletic," opinions among Premier League club presidents and coaches are mixed. Some believe that City will avoid severe penalties, such as point deductions or relegation to lower divisions, and will instead face a substantial financial fine. Others, however, argue that if the club is found guilty, it should face harsh penalties, including the deduction of a significant number of points.
The report quotes one Premier League club president: "The consensus I’ve heard is that the appropriate penalty should be a very large points deduction—somewhere between 70 and 80 points—which would ensure Manchester City spends a season in the Championship."
Meanwhile, a prominent figure in the football world suggested that the penalty should be creative and non-traditional, proposing that City could face a points deduction spread over the next three seasons, making it difficult for the club to qualify for the Champions League.
On the other hand, an unnamed Premier League coach told a British website that he does not expect City to face severe punishment due to the prolonged investigation. He also noted that City’s success did not follow the same path as other clubs. It's important to note that Manchester City's management has denied all allegations and expressed their willingness to cooperate with the Premier League to clear their name.