Man City could face points deduction severe enough to guarantee relegation

City could reportedly face a points deduction severe enough to effectively guarantee relegation from the Premier League if the independent commission’s findings against the club survive the appeal process.

City appealed earlier this month after an independent commission found against them over serious breaches of Premier League financial rules covering a nine-season period between 2009-10 and 2017-18.

The club continue to deny wrongdoing and maintain that the commission’s opinion contains “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact” and is unsafe. A fresh report has now offered an indication of the punishment City could face if those findings stand.

According to the Daily Mail, sources close to the process believe the most likely sanction is a substantial points deduction capable of ensuring City are relegated to the Championship, together with a significant fine. The report also raises the possibility of a further points deduction which could apply during City’s first season in the Championship, potentially making an immediate return to the Premier League considerably more difficult.

Broad discretion…

Expulsion from the Premier League and a restart lower down the English football pyramid is considered less likely because of the disruption such an outcome could cause. Crucially, none of those sanctions has been confirmed. The Premier League’s disciplinary rules give an independent commission broad discretion over punishment, including the power to impose fines, points deductions and other sporting sanctions.

City’s appeal also remains unresolved. The club said when lodging it that a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” supports its position and that it will continue to respect the process while proceedings are ongoing.

The latest report therefore provides an indication of the severity of punishment being discussed rather than a final decision on City’s future.

Should a relegation-level deduction ultimately be imposed and survive the appeal process, however, it would have extraordinary consequences for a City side which has begun the Premier League season with seven successive victories.

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