From transfer bans to Premier League expulsion: The punishments Manchester City could face after alleged financial breaches

Manchester City are at risk of being removed from the Premier League after being charged with more than 100 breaches of its financial rules.

The Premier League has referred defending champions Manchester City to an independent commission over alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018.

Following a four-year investigation, the Premier League have accused City of breaching rules requiring them to provide ‘accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position’.

This information covered club revenue, sponsorship income and operating costs, with further breaches relating to details surrounding player and manager remuneration between 2009 and 2018.

The Premier League also accused Man City of failing to cooperate and assist with the Financial Fair Play investigation.

‘The proceedings before the Commission will, in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82, be confidential and heard in private,’ a statement read.

‘Under Premier League Rule W.82.2, the Commission’s final award will be published on the Premier League’s website.’

Manchester City have been the dominant force in English football in recent years, lifting the Premier League in four of the last five seasons.

However, the club will face an uncertain future if found guilty of the financial breaches, with the commission able to impose various punishments on offending clubs.

These include expulsion from the Premier League, the stripping of previous titles, points deductions, transfer bans, spending limits and fines.

Manchester City could even lose their manager if they are found guilty, with Pep Guardiola threatening to quit when UEFA previously made accusations against the club.

In 2020, UEFA ruled that Manchester City committed ‘serious breaches’ of Financial Fair Play between 2012 and 2016.

However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a two-year ban from European competitions later in the year.

Speaking in August 2020, Guardiola said: ‘I said to our people, “Tell me” about the suspicions. I looked at them and believed them 100 per cent from day one so I defended the club because of that.

‘I did say, “If you lie to me, the day after I am not here. I will be out and you will not be my friend any more”.

‘I like to represent a club that is doing things properly. In the end, it’s not about winning the Champions League or Premier League, it’s about always doing it well, for our people and our fans.

‘What CAS said meant a lot. It broke all the suspicion. I can not forget that nine teams in the Premier League pushed to sack Manchester City from European competitions, I know who they are.’

Manchester City are currently second in the Premier League but their title defence suffered a blow at the weekend as they were beaten by Tottenham.

In a statement following the Premier League’s announcement, Man City said: ‘Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.

‘The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.

‘As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.’

The key questions around Man City's alleged breaches of Premier League's financial rules

What has happened?

City stand accused of breaching the competition’s financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18. The club are alleged to have broken rules related to accurate financial reporting, submission of full details of manager and player pay within the relevant contracts, the duty to abide by Uefa Financial Fair Play regulations, the duty to abide by Premier League profitability and sustainability regulations and the duty to co-operate and assist with Premier League investigations.

What’s the background?

The Premier League say the investigation into these alleged rule breaches began in December 2018. A month earlier, German magazine Der Spiegel published leaked documents alleging City had circumvented FFP rules by inflating the value of sponsorship deals with companies linked to the club’s owners in Abu Dhabi, and arranging ‘shadow contracts’ in order to pay higher-than-reported salaries to some employees, including Roberto Mancini, manager between December 2009 and May 2013. Uefa also investigated Der Spiegel’s report, with the claims of wrongdoing vehemently denied by City.

What happens next?

The chair of the Premier League’s independent judicial panel, Murray Rosen KC, will appoint panellists to serve alongside him. No timescales have been revealed.

What power does the commission have?

Premier League rules state that, if alleged breaches are found proven, sanctions range from a reprimand, through to points deductions and even a recommendation to the league to expel City from the competition.

What have City said?

A club statement expressed surprise the alleged breaches had been published, given the club’s ‘extensive engagement’ on the matter. The club say they look forward to the independent commission considering the ‘irrefutable evidence’ to support their position.

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