With the case between the Premier League and Manchester City over Financial Fair Play breaches having begun in the courts this week, fans will be wondering what sort of punishment the club could face if they are found guilty.
The Cityzens are facing 130 charges in total for breaking Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations, illicit financing and lack of cooperation between the years 2008 and 2023.
An Independent Commission was set up under the instruction of the Premier League by Murray Rosen KC, with three people selected to hear the charges.
It is believed that one member will be a financial expert, with hearings being undertaken in private. There is no official word as to how long the hearing will take but some experts have estimated that it will take at least two months due to the complicated nature of the case.
What happens if City are found guilty?
A lot will depend on the severity of the charges they are found guilty of. According to W.51 in the Premier League handbook, The Independent Commission has the power to sanction any club found to have broken rules but they can only can mete out certain punishments.
For example, it can give fines, points deductions, suspensions and even strip City of some of its Premier League titles. However, while expulsion/relegation is an option, that would have to be voted on by the other 19 Premier League clubs.
Can City be relegated from the Premier League if found guilty?
The Premier League handbook states that an Independent Commission only has the power to “recommend” the expulsion of a club “in accordance with the provisions of Rule B.6”.
Rule B.6 states that, via a “Special Resolution”, a member can be expelled if “three-quarters” of clubs agree. A lot will, therefore depend on what clubs do. If the Commission does advocate relegation, though, based on the charges that City are found guilty of, it would be a surprise if teams didn’t back the recommendation given.
What are the chances of City being relegated?
It should be pointed out that Leicester City did successfully appeal when they were found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules earlier this year.
That recent success against the Premier League is said to have given City’s lawyers confidence ahead of their own trial. However, some have pointed out that Leicester’s case was exceptional as the Foxes won the appeal based on the fact that the Premier League did not have the right to punish them after they had been relegated to the Championship.
For that reason, there is a great deal of uncertainty about City’s case. Some bettors will of, course, be looking at City’s relegation odds in the outright Premier League betting markets to see if they can make some money.
They could look to use the latest free bet promotions to maximise their potential success should the Premier League go hard on the eight-time Premier League winners. In such a competitive market, many punters will lean on a comparison page like this one to get wind of the most appealing promotions before the outcome of City’s two-month-long hearing is known.
Can City appeal if they are relegated?
This is a difficult one to answer. There could potentially be an appeal to the guilty charges, with another independent panel being set up. That happened with Leicester and Everton, with the Toffees having had their points reduction reduced.
However, the final decision on relegation is not made by the Independent Commission but by City’s fellow Premier League clubs based on Rule B.6.
It must also be pointed out that City won’t be able to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if their appeal fails as there is no option for clubs to pursue that route under Premier League rules.
Basically, it will come down to the Commission and how the clubs decide to enforce their recommendations.
