The opinion of a football finance expert has been provided regarding the number of points that Manchester City could potentially lose in the event that they are found guilty of alleged violations of Premier League rules.
Between the months of September and December 2024, an independent commission was present for the hearing that was held to investigate the alleged violations committed by City.
The majority of the allegations pertain to a period of nine years, beginning in 2009 and concluding in 2018, during which City was accused of committing a variety of alleged violations, all of which the club has categorically denied.
Failure to provide accurate information, failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments, violation of profit and sustainability rules (PSR), failure to comply with UEFA regulations including financial fair play (FFP), and failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations are the charges that have been brought against City.
According to the initial allegations, the Premier League champions were accused of breaking 115 different rules that govern the Premier League. On the other hand, The Times has reported that the actual number could be as high as 130 due to the fact that there is a lot of confusion regarding the Premier League’s breakdown of the charges.
Although the hearing has now come to a close, it has not been determined when a decision will be made known to the public or when it will be reached. On the other hand, according to BBC Sport, the commission has “unlimited powers” that include the ability to enforce a potential points deduction or relegation in the event that City is found guilty.
The city claims that the allegations are supported by a “body of irrefutable evidence” and that they were initially “surprised” by them.
“Manchester City is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with,” according to a statement that the club issued in February of 2023.
This statement was made by Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, during a press conference that took place prior to his team’s victory over Leyton Orient by a score of 2-1 in the fourth round of the FA Cup on February 8th. Guardiola stated that the verdict could be reached in “one month.”
“In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence,” said Guardiola in his statement.
“After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far.”
Currently, Kieran Maguire, a football finance expert, has provided his opinion on the charges and the possible punishment that could be imposed on City in the event that they are found guilty.
Maguire stated, “The number 115 has now become a part of folklore, which is rather bizarre because A: there are 130 charges,” while he was speaking on the show Tear Us Apart.
“And B: in reality, there are only three of them.
The punishment is likely to be significantly more severe [than what Everton and Nottingham Forest received] if the defendant is found guilty.
“So, it has to be a points deduction – if found guilty,” he explained to reporters. It is likely that a monetary penalty would be appropriate for non-cooperation… I believe that we are going to be subject to a reduction in points, which could be anywhere from sixty to one hundred points.
