Manchester City are facing expulsion from the Premier League following the confirmation of their guilty verdict. The club has been plunged into crisis after being found to have breached the Premier League's financial rules on 115 occasions, as detailed in a 40-page report published by top-flight officials on Tuesday.
The report states that City inflated its revenue and reduced costs by more than £900million between the 2009-10 season and the 2017-18 campaign. City have been given a deadline of Friday to appeal against the verdict and have already confirmed their intention to do so.
Expulsion vote and rival clubs' stance
Should the appeal fail, the 10-time English champions are expected to receive an unprecedented punishment, which could include expulsion from the top flight. Expelling City from the Premier League would require a special shareholder vote, with 15 of the 20 clubs needing to vote in favour. According to The Independent, the feeling is currently running that high.
The report also stated that City had created 'sham' contracts with a number of its commercial partners and misstated the club's accounts. It added that City called witnesses who gave evidence 'that they knew to be untrue and so had been dishonest'.
City's response and denial
Despite the findings, City, who lifted eight trophies during the period in question, continue to deny any wrongdoing and claim they have a 'comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence' which will prove their innocence.
"Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today," a statement read. "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."
