Manchester City's guilty verdict for breaching the Premier League's financial rules has left a number of teams stunned, according to reports. Rival clubs could come together to call for the East Manchester-based club to be expelled from the English top flight, but are said to be waiting for the sanctions process to conclude before making any demands, according to The Times.
Independent panel findings
After a three-year wait, the Premier League finally released the findings of an independent panel that investigated City over a litany of financial breaches spanning 2009 and 2018. The panel found City guilty of the charges put against them, and as a result, action is expected to be taken.
A statement from the Premier League read: "An independent Commission has found Manchester City FC guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation."
League chief responds
Chief executive of the league, Richard Masters, added: "The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade."
"It also vindicates the Premier League’s decision to pursue this case against Manchester City. While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently."
"It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the Rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition. It is paramount that the League remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans. We take that role extremely seriously."
"This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history. There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches. Now we have the Commission’s decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans."
Possible sanctions and appeal
City ultimately have the option to appeal the verdict, which they are expected to do, but must lodge any challenges by Friday, October 2. The Times claims that there are talks of clubs wanting City expelled from the Premier League as punishment for their guilty verdict, although any punishment could be a little while away.
While the Premier League explained in their statement that they will look to conclude the full process "as soon as possible," no definitive penalties will be handed to City until the case is completely closed. While purely speculative, the club could face demotion from the Premier League and be stripped of their titles between 2009 and 2018. Points deductions, transfer embargoes and hefty fines are also a possibility.
City's response
It comes as City released a statement of their own on Tuesday, once more pleading their innocence. It read: "Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today. The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case."
"The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums. The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe."
"The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence. The Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete."
