CORNERFLICK
Manchester City now face calls for the harshest possible punishment after an independent commission found the club guilty of serious Premier League financial breaches over nine years.
Findings and possible sanctions
The commission ruled that City were guilty of all charges linked to alleged financial rule breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The source material says the panel found the club used sham commercial deals and hidden financial arrangements, and misreported income and costs by more than £900 million.
Possible penalties range from a fine to points deductions and heavier sporting sanctions. The regulations also allow for expulsion from the Premier League.
Ownership questions and next steps
The source material says some clubs and figures in English football support City being removed from the Premier League and even blocked from entering the EFL, which runs the Championship, League One and League Two. It adds that a return to the EFL could also come under consideration if City are expelled.
According to the source material, the independent football regulator is watching the case and can review owners’ and directors’ suitability. Any final outcome still depends on the appeal process, so neither expulsion nor a change of ownership can be treated as settled yet.