- Manchester City are at risk of a 60-point deduction.
- The Citizens could miss out on the Champions League next season.
- Man City could be relegated to the Championship.
Manchester City have had a rollercoaster of a season so far and their chances of winning the Premier League are getting slimmer by the day.
Now, as if that wasn’t enough, the club are reportedly at risk of a 60-point deduction.
Man City have been part of an ongoing investigation since February 2023 on charges of violating FFP rules. The Premier League has accused the club of doing so on 115 occasions over a nine-year period.
While the verdict in the case still hasn’t been delivered, there has been speculation about the kind of punishment City might face if found guilty. The answer certainly won’t be pleasing for the fans to hear. Football finance expert Kieran Maguire (via GIVEMESPORT) has suggested that City could be facing a 60-point deduction. Maguire stated:
“If we take a look at precedence, we have had Everton and Nottingham Forest with six and four-point deductions for a single offence covering a three-year period. The accusations against Manchester City cover a nine-year period, so it is far bigger.
“The numbers involved, we are not certain about, but they are likely to be quite significant. I think you have to add a zero to what we’ve seen in terms of Forest and Everton, so somewhere between a 40 and 60-point deduction would be, on merit to be consistent with what we’ve seen with other decisions, would make a lot of logic.”
If this indeed turns out to be true, City would be left in a tricky situation, facing multiple challenges.
Implications for City in the event of a 60-point deduction
City are currently sitting in second position with 61 points. So they would be left with just one point in case of a deduction, which will guarantee their relegation to the Championship. Moreover, they could also bid goodbye to Champions League football for a while.
Additionally, this would also put a huge dent in City’s finances if they drop down to a lower league. Their earnings would decrease significantly, making it difficult to sign world-class players. They might even have to let some players leave to balance the books.
Way forward for Man City
Although the final ruling hasn’t been given yet, some reports have suggested that it will be delivered before the end of this season. So, City board will have to prepare for the worst.
That said, the players should focus on their campaign at the moment and not lend an ear to speculation about any potential outcome from the case. After all, City are innocent until proven guilty.
