Manchester City could be expelled from the Premier League if their appeal against a guilty verdict on 114 counts of breaking financial rules is upheld. An independent commission found that City arranged "sham" contracts with commercial partners to disguise over £830million in secret funding between 2009 and 2018. The commission also found that City failed to co-operate fully, instead making "concerted efforts to stop and frustrate" the process.
Potential punishments and the EFL question
If the appeal fails, City could face a range of punishments, including a fine, points deduction, or expulsion from the Premier League. Expulsion would be complicated, as the English Football League (EFL) is under no obligation to accept City as new members. If the EFL refused, City could be forced to play in the fifth-tier National League or lower.
Champions League qualification scenario
In an unusual twist, City could still play in next season's Champions League while being a non-league club domestically. Winning this season's competition would guarantee a place for the 2026/27 campaign, even without qualifying through league position. Similar situations have occurred before: Birmingham City played in the Europa League the season after winning the League Cup in 2011 despite relegation, and Wigan Athletic were relegated three days after their FA Cup triumph in 2013.
Appeal process ongoing
City's fate depends entirely on the ongoing appeal process, and it is unclear how they would be punished if the guilty verdict is upheld. Stefan Borson, a former financial advisor to City, believes they will receive a points deduction that makes relegation unavoidable. "From the very first day, I explained to people that the punishment would be severe and that City would be relegated," he said. "I think people now maybe understand that and maybe didn't understand it when I said it, but it's just inevitable that one way or the other, there's going to be a relegation of some sort. The question is the mechanism and what other bits and pieces they try and throw at the club, but obviously that depends on the appeal."
