Manchester City's legal battle with the Premier League has been described as a "disaster" for English football, with former striker Emile Heskey predicting the club will face a 60-point deduction. The final outcome of City's appeal against an independent commission's guilty verdict could come in the new year.
In September, it was confirmed that City had been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League. The club maintains its innocence and submitted an appeal a few days after the verdict was announced.
Appeal timeline and possible sanctions
Premier League rules state that an appeal should be completed within 12 weeks, with the independent panel then having a further 30 days to reach a final decision. If the appeal is rejected, City could face a points deduction, a substantial fine, or even expulsion from the Premier League.
Former striker and pundit Ally McCoist said he finds the situation "sad" and that the sanction is certain to anger some clubs, amid reports that rivals are lobbying for the harshest punishment if City are found guilty again. McCoist also addressed comparisons to Rangers' relegation through the Scottish divisions in 2012.
McCoist and Heskey weigh in
"Man City being compared to Rangers? I get the comparison a little bit," McCoist said in an interview with talkSPORT Bet. "There are no real comparisons in the legalities of it, but I understand the sentiment. If City lose the appeal, no matter what happens, people will be unhappy with the level of punishment."
"Some will think it's too light, others too harsh. It leaves an overall sense of sadness more than anything else that we can't get this resolved sooner. I understand there's a legal and appeals process to go through, but it's a disaster for the English game."
Heskey, whose sons Jaden and Reigan both came through City's academy, predicted the club will receive a 60-point deduction, a penalty that would almost certainly condemn them to relegation.
"As for the off-field legal issues and their appeal, it's so complex that it won't be resolved quickly or sorted this season," Heskey said, via BestBettingSites. "Both sides are going to throw arguments back and forth, and it could go on for a year or more."
Potential outcomes and next steps
Heskey added: "I think they will probably get a 60-point deduction, but say City get 90-something points, or 100 – well, then they could stay up. They've got a chance. If they end up staying up, then I'm not sure that's the right punishment from the point of view of other clubs. They will probably go into the Championship, but people will have questions about whether they should go into League One or League Two, instead."
The final decision on City's appeal is expected to be reached within the coming months, with the outcome likely to shape the club's immediate future in the Premier League.
