Manchester City have been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges laid against them by the Premier League, according to a report from a distinguished journalist. The initial outcome of the long-running case has finally emerged, but the specific punishments remain unknown and are unlikely to be confirmed for some considerable time.
Appeal process could extend saga
The guilt has not yet been made official, and with City certain to appeal, it could take another eight years to determine exactly how they will be punished, if at all. The investigation began eight years ago, and the process has now reached this point without official confirmation from either the Premier League or the club.
With no specific details of the transgressions disclosed, it is difficult to predict what sanctions might be imposed. Points deductions were previously handed to Everton and Nottingham Forest for breaches of Profit and Sustainability Rules, but City's case could differ significantly.
Urgent clarification needed
Clarification from the Premier League is urgently required. In previous cases, the league announced punishments alongside guilty verdicts, and the same should happen now for City. The sanctions should be announced before any appeal is heard.
The guilty verdicts tarnish not only the achievements of the City team during the nine seasons covered by the charges, but also the eight seasons since. If guilt is confirmed, this era of City excellence has been built on a period during which they cheated, including the 2011/12 title win that laid foundations for later success under Pep Guardiola.
City's legal stance
In a statement, City indicated they will continue to contest the charges through legal means. The club said the Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality, adding that their position remains consistent with their statement from February 2023.
The club said it has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.
Possible sanctions and precedents
Should sanctions mean titles are stripped away as rival fans demand? Possibly, but that outcome is almost certainly irrelevant because titles are unlikely to be removed. Such a move would push the process deeper into a legal black hole.
The Premier League has set a precedent by only fining Chelsea for breaches of financial rules governing agent payments, an example City would likely use to argue against a points deduction. Possible sanctions range from relegation to removal of titles, a transfer ban, or merely an apology and fine.
The bottom line, according to the independent commission, is that City have cheated. Whatever the practicalities of the sanctions, the most severe and now unavoidable punishment is that City's dominance of English club football's modern era will carry an asterisk.
