Manchester City are on the brink of a possible significant Premier League sanction. The English club faces allegations of breaches of Financial Fair Play rules dating back around five years and is scheduled to go to trial next week. Possible punishments range from loss of championship points to relegation to the second national division.
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Over the period 2009 to 2018, the club was accused of violating Premier League rules on 115 occasions. The central allegation is that Manchester City failed to provide accurate financial information to the league, misleading it about its revenue. The alleged irregularities relate to the club’s owner, Qatar’s Sheikh Mansour, who denies any wrongdoing. In February 2020, after an extensive investigation, European football’s governing body suspended the club from participating in continental competitions, a decision that was later reversed months later. However, in 2023, the Premier League’s accusations resurfaced, reigniting the case.
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The most likely punishment for Manchester City appears to be the loss of points in the Premier League, although there is also the threat of relegation to the national second division. Everton, a club associated with 777 Partners, the same company that controls Vasco, faced a ten-point penalty this season and is just one point away from the relegation zone.
The Premier League ordered the formation of an independent commission to deliberate on City’s punishments. The hearings are scheduled to take place privately and confidentially in September and December 2024.
