Manchester City’s many detractors will be unhappy to learn that the Premier League may hit the 2022/23 treble winners with only a small points deduction if they are found guilty of their 115 alleged FFP breaches.
This is because Everton has been hit with a 10-point deduction this season for this reason, which saw them fight from second bottom early in the season to their current 17th place. Their case is still ongoing and many expect them to be hit with some more deductions despite having a much lesser case load than Manchester City.
Nottingham Forest are also in the Premier League’s sights for breaches of their own upon their return to the Premier League last season. Theirs is a similar case to Everton.
City’s, however, is the most that any club has allegedly breached the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations. The league’s defending champions have breaches dating back to 2009.
The club’s critics, detractors and objective pundits have been suggesting several punishments for City which include but are not limited to humongous fines, expulsion from the league, automatic relegation regardless of where they finish on the table, and stripping of the three titles won in the time frame being considered.
However, Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol has claimed that City’s punishment will not be as dire as the suggestions that have been making the rounds. Instead, City will receive a “small points deduction” akin to Everton’s if they are found guilty.
“According to Premier League rules, it can be a points deduction or even the threat of expulsion from the Premier League, although I think that would be an extreme punishment”, wrote Solhekol.
“But, if it was a points deduction, it would be a deduction that would be in the current season, so if they were found guilty in a future season, that’s when the points deduction would be applied.”
Manchester City have once again employed the services of Lord Pannick KC of Blackstone Chambers, who helped them escape UEFA’s punishments via a victory at the Court of Arbitration for Sport a while ago.
A date for City’s hearing has finally been set. Speaking at the event where the date was set, the Premier League’s Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “I can understand frustrations but they are very different charges.”
“If any club, whether they are the current champions or otherwise, had been found in breach of the spending rules for year ’23, they would be in exactly the same position as Everton or Nottingham Forest.”
“The volume and character of the charges laid before Man City, which I cannot talk about at all, are being heard in a completely different environment.”
“There is a date set for that proceeding. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you when that is but that is progressing. I can’t give any details on Man City beyond saying a date has been set, I can’t tell you when that date is.”
The world is watching to see how it will turn out.
