Manchester City has been informed that they may be subject to a historic 100-point deduction if all 115 Premier League allegations are found to be valid.
The reigning Premier League champions, who are scheduled to commence their hearing for their charges on Monday (September 16), were issued an ominous warning by football finance expert Kieran Maguire.
City is alleged to have violated Premier League financial regulations for a nine-year period commencing in 2009. The investigation is anticipated to last for two months. In addition, the club has been accused of failing to provide accurate financial information, with a variety of accusations being levied against them. City vigorously denies these allegations.
If the club is found guilty of a points deduction, they are at risk of facing a limitless fine and, according to Maguire, they would almost undoubtedly be expelled from the highest tier of english football.
He was enquired by Jason Cundy and Jamie O’Hara during an appearance on talkSPORT regarding the potential consequences for City in the event that the allegations against them are upheld.
“It can’t be a financial punishment, that would make everybody think the whole thing was a waste of time,” according to him. “Upon reviewing the hearings at both Everton and Nottingham Forest, the commissions both stated that this is a minor violation of the rules.”
Manchester City has been accused of disguising payments to players and managers through third-parties, effectively being paid offshore via Abu Dhabi for services provided by members of staff. If the allegations against the club are proven, this must be a major breach of the rules. Effectively, the club has misrepresented the money coming into the club.
“That is also entirely in violation of the rules, although it is possible that it is within the Premier League’s guidelines. Consequently, we would be required to consider a substantial points deduction.”
“If all 115 charges are proven, then you would imagine the points deduction would be somewhere in the region of 60-100 points on the basis that they would want the club to suffered enough to be heading out of the division.”
Man City last competed in the second tier of English football during the 2001/02 season. Since then, they have established themselves as a fixture in the Premier League, collecting eight league titles since 2011/12.
