Premier League executives have reportedly held discussions over whether Manchester City should be suspended with immediate effect following their financial regulations breach. According to The Independent, one senior figure from a top-flight club argued that the impending sanctions have created a 'farcical' situation that could turn 'violent'.
City beat Liverpool amid expulsion talks
Manchester City defeated Liverpool 3-0 on Sunday in their first match since an independent commission found them guilty of Premier League financial breaches. The win came in a charged atmosphere at Anfield, where home supporters directed fierce criticism towards the visitors, branding them 'cheats'.
The Independent's report claims that executives have already begun contacting one another regarding whether City should face an immediate Premier League suspension, or whether 15 fellow member clubs would push to table such a vote.
Rule 6B and unlikely expulsion
Under Rule 6B of the Premier League rulebook, 15 clubs hold the power to vote for expulsion. However, it has been suggested that this outcome remains highly unlikely given the conflicting opinions among clubs. The Independent has drawn attention to a number of conflicting viewpoints, including existing business ties between club owners and Abu Dhabi.
Should the Premier League pursue expulsion, City could seek High Court intervention and potentially secure reinstatement.
Maresca and pundits react
Enzo Maresca treated the victory, secured through goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki, as a point of pride as his side weathered the hostile environment. He said: "Ferran (Soriano) was there, Hugo (Viana) was there. For the importance of the game, Liverpool away, I think it's a good idea for the club to be all together. It's togetherness that in this moment we need."
He added: "It was not easy for the players after the past two or three weeks but I think they handled the situation very well. I said during the week, we need to learn how to deal with the outside noise. Because of the situation, the noise will always be there so we need to learn how to deal with it. At the same time, we need try to make our noise by winning games like we did today."
Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were left deflated following City's demolition of Andoni Iraola's side. Neville said: "We're sat here not knowing what it means. City supporters will be delighted [with the win], but I don't think they recognise right now the stain, the stigma and the damage this is going to do to them. Liverpool fans are singing 'going down', they're shouting 'cheats' and you can't get away from that."
He continued: "There was a banner over in that far corner which I thought was devastating - 'A generation of supporters have been cheated'. I thought you know, that will be the mood around the country, that for 10-15 years they've been cheated. We should be absolutely eulogising over a performance like that, where they've come through and withstood a really difficult opening spell - which is always the case here at Anfield - and then gone on to come out on top. But there's a 'but', isn't there? And we're sat here not knowing what this means."
The reactions come amid mounting uncertainty surrounding the potential sanctions facing the club, as their appeal continues.
