Manchester City players could launch legal action against the club if they are relegated as a result of the verdict on the club's 115 financial charges, but relegation alone would not give them an automatic right to walk away from their contracts.
The club faces a range of possible sanctions for its conduct, from a significant fine to potential expulsion. Expulsion is not straightforward to impose because the EFL is a separate body, but City could drop to the Championship through a large points deduction once the process is complete.
City could also face legal action from other Premier League sides and even from their own players. However, for players under contract to have their deals terminated, more than relegation would be required, according to Kavan Bakhda, a partner and head of sports at Mishcon de Reya.
Legal thresholds for players to reach
Speaking via The Sunday Times, Bakhda said: "Relegation would not give Manchester City's players an automatic legal right to tear up their contracts and walk away. However, relegation could lead to thorny legal disputes between players and the club."
He added: "If Manchester City were relegated because of serious wrongdoing by the club, players could in theory argue that the club's conduct amounted to a fundamental breach entitling them to terminate their contracts. However, these would be relatively high legal thresholds for players to reach. Relegation alone would not necessarily be enough."
Club maintains innocence
Despite the guilty verdict, City have protested their innocence since first being charged by the Premier League in February 2023. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak reiterated that stance in a statement on Saturday, saying the process still has a long way to go.
Part of his comments, published on the club website, read: "I have been part of this Club for 18 years. I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul. This Club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again - how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today."
He continued: "Following Friday's media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here's what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club's innocence is just as strong as when this began."
Al Mubarak added: "There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies."
This is the third charges-related statement released by City in the last three-and-a-half years, and in all of them, and throughout the process, they have protested their innocence.
