Manchester City's owners have been told to sell up following a guilty verdict on the club's finances. An independent commission found City guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over a nine-season period, as well as charges relating to the club's failure to co-operate with the investigation.
Appeal and potential consequences
City have appealed the independent commission's decision, with the club's hierarchy insisting they are innocent and remain committed to clearing their name. But if the appeal fails, the consequences could be devastating for the 2023 European champions.
One of the most likely outcomes would be relegation from the Premier League. The exact method this happens would be significant, given a hefty points deduction would guarantee City a spot in the Championship, while expulsion would not. There are also suggestions that a transfer ban could be on the cards, while a big fine has been mooted as well.
Calls for a forced sale
In the wake of the guilty verdict, there have been calls for the authorities to force City's owners to sell. The club were taken over by Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), led by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in 2008.
In a poll conducted by Express Sport, 82 per cent of voters said yes, the owners should be forced to sell up and leave. Some opposition was recorded, with 16 per cent of voters saying they are okay with the owners sticking around, while two per cent were left undecided.
City continue on the pitch
In the meantime, City will continue to play matches, having resumed after the international break with a 3-0 win away to Liverpool. Speaking after the win, Enzo Maresca said: "My message to the players since we were together three days ago, when they all came back from their national teams, has been quite clear: guys, the noise will always be there so it's about how we learn to deal with the noise and it's our duty to make our noise. Our noise is to win games in the way we did today and to be happy. It was our fans making the noise at the end of the game today."
