Manchester City are facing a colossal financial penalty and widespread condemnation, with rival clubs reportedly plotting significant legal action following the guilty verdict for breaching Premier League financial regulations.
Rival clubs believe they could be entitled to hundreds of millions in compensation if City are proven to have denied them Champions League football, commercial agreements, bonuses and prize money.
Warning over lengthy appeal process
City have also received a stark warning from one of their most prominent supporters, who cautioned that pursuing a lengthy appeals process would further damage the club's already "tarnished" reputation.
Former City chairman David Bernstein said: "To see all this tarnished in this way is very sad, I feel particularly bad for the wonderful supporters of the club who've stayed with the club through thick and thin."
"This whole process has taken too long already. So the appeal process now has to be done quickly because... you've got the club playing with this cloud over its head and it's just not viable."
"The appeal process cannot go on for year after year, I think that would be a disaster. Not just for this particular case but for English football generally."
Concerns over appeal proceedings
Concerns are mounting that should City lodge an appeal — described as "inevitable" by one executive at a rival club — proceedings could be significantly prolonged, as an entirely new panel would need to be assembled to review the case.
Such a scenario would cast an enormous cloud over the Premier League throughout proceedings, and should matters remain unresolved by season's end, it could result in City being declared champions despite a guilty verdict - an unthinkable situation.
Former FA chairman Bernstein, speaking to Times Radio, maintains any sanction must extend far beyond financial penalties. He added: "I can't give a view on the punishment. If they are found, after the appeal, guilty of 115 charges, my beloved club is going to face a very severe penalty."
"All I would say is that money is not sufficient, it would have to be something, unfortunately, more drastic than that."
Legal options for rival clubs
While City have not confirmed details, they released a statement emphasising that proceedings remain ongoing. Yet this latest twist has sent shockwaves throughout the footballing community. The alleged violations - with reports suggesting guilty findings on 114 of the 115 charges - are understood to span 2009 to 2018, a period during which they established themselves as England's pre-eminent footballing force.
Rival Premier League clubs are expected to examine their legal options carefully. Burnley pursued action against Everton last June following the Merseyside outfit's 2021 PSR breach, arguing it provided an unfair sporting advantage, ultimately securing £35.1m in compensation.
Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham are understood to have filed legal notices, preserving their rights under Section W of competition regulations, with some projections indicating potential claims worth £200m per club.
However, it remains highly probable that other clubs - despite facing time restrictions under a statute of limitations and essentially operating within a "private members' club" framework under Premier League regulations - may also challenge the proceedings and pursue compensation claims.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "I think most football fans will be feeling this is not a good moment for football as a whole and I think Manchester City fans will be feeling very anxious about what happens next."
"You'll know this is a really long standing investigation, it dates all the way back to allegations that begin in 2009. There is still a way to go with the investigation, Manchester City is contesting the charges."
"The football fans need to know the rules are applied fairly and consistently, they need to know they're upheld and they need to know the right decision has been reached."
"We do have a way to go with this, it's very unsettling for football fans and I hope that it can be resolved as swiftly as possible."
