Manchester City are most likely to face a hefty points deduction after being found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges over breaches of Premier League financial rules, according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire.
The four-year investigation covered breaches related to the period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, during which City won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups and one Community Shield. City are expected to lodge an appeal, but supporters now face an agonising wait to learn what sanctions will be imposed.
Range of possible punishments
A number of punishments are said to be on the table, ranging from huge fines, points deductions, expulsion from the Premier League or the retrospective stripping of titles. Maguire told TalkTV that a points deduction is the most likely outcome, citing recent cases involving Nottingham Forest and Everton as precedent.
‘There is no doubt a points deduction would be the most likely outcome in the view of many,’ Maguire said. ‘We have seen points deductions before for Nottingham Forest and Everton for breach of the financial limit rules. So that is feasible. There is a separate issue of whether clubs who have missed out on titles, could they put in for financial compensation for not getting into Europe and loss of prize money.’
Potential beneficiaries
Manchester United finished in second place in two of the seasons under investigation, runners-up in 2011-12 under Sir Alex Ferguson and again in 2017-18 with Jose Mourinho at the helm. Former United defender Rio Ferdinand is already anticipating ‘another medal to be added to the cabinet’, with his former teammate David de Gea writing on X: ‘So… Let’s talk. How many Premier League titles have I won then?’
Mourinho famously described finishing second behind City in 2018 as one of the biggest accomplishments of his career. ‘Maybe they punish Manchester City with points, we win that league,’ he said in 2024. ‘And then they have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal.’
Liverpool could also benefit were City to be stripped of their titles, having finished second in 2013-14 under Brendan Rodgers.
Commission’s broad powers
‘If you take a look at the Premier League handbook, it says the commission’s recommendations are as broad based as you want them to be. Anything from a fine, to a points deduction, to expulsion from the Premier League,’ Maguire added. ‘Also, it could be that the titles won during that period will be taken away, though you can’t retrospectively have the joy that winning a match and title brings from a fans’ perspective.’
