Football finance expert reveals the punishment Man City could face if they’re found guilty of 115 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules
A football finance expert has revealed what punishment Manchester City could face if found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.
115 charges were laid against the defending Premier League champions in early 2023, and a hearing into their case concluded last month.
A verdict on whether they are guilty or not is expected soon, and financial expert Kieran Maguire has now provided some insight into City’s situation.
Speaking about The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky bet‘, Maguire told Jamie Carragher, Paul Scholes and the group of gathered supporters: ‘In City’s case there are actually three charges. It’s not 115. Has any money come in from the owners that they claim comes from the sponsors? If that is the case, then there is fraud. That’s about as serious as it can be.
‘And if he is found guilty of these charges, the book will be thrown at Manchester City and it will mean a huge points deduction.
‘You can’t relegate them because the Premier League and the EFL are independent bodies so the EFL doesn’t have to accept them. Considering Everton and Forest’s points deductions, they were both described as “minor offences” by the committee. Well, what Manchester City are accused of is major breaches over a period of nine to ten years. So you would see somewhere between 60 and 100 points if you go per charge. So it would demote them.
The Premier League is investigating whether Man City – led by owner Sheikh Mansour (first left, bottom row) – breached their financial rules
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire (pictured) expects City to be deducted 60-100 points if found guilty
This huge deduction would see City relegated from the Premier League
‘People paying outside the book, that happens in football. I know a number of players and ex-players who work for the owners’ company and also on wages at the club. We have a history of players’ mothers being paid hundreds of thousands of pounds to act as academy scouts, so the player would get a slightly better deal, and so on. Football is quite creative in those rules.
‘And the third charge, which I think City will find difficult to defend, is failure to cooperate with the Premier League investigation. That said, if my wife looks at my internet history, I’m in trouble! It shouldn’t be done. You shouldn’t rely on hacked emails and that’s City’s defence.”
Should City be found guilty, some expect they will immediately appeal, which could drag their case into next season and beyond.
But Maguire is not convinced this will be a suitable option for the club.
“I think there are very limited grounds for appeal,” he continued. ‘Only if the behavior of the committee itself has been unprofessional in some way can one of the parties possibly appeal.
‘If Manchester City are found guilty, the entire board of directors must resign because they have been found guilty of misrepresentation, essentially lying to a committee.’
Everton and Nottingham Forest both had points deducted last season for breaching financial rules, and City now wait to discover their fate after the ‘trial of the century’.
But Maguire does not believe they are the last club under the Premier League microscope.
Top teams were required to submit their financial accounts by December 31, with the Premier League now going through the paperwork before deciding whether clubs have broken their rules.
Maguire revealed another Premier League club is at ‘high risk’ of being sued
He appeared to confirm that neither Liverpool nor Manchester United are in danger
Maguire has revealed that one club is at risk of being sued, but declined to reveal who it could be.
“There is one club in particular, in the Premier League, that is at high risk of being charged by the Premier League for breaching (their rules),” Maguire said.
When pressed by a fan about the color of the shirt the team was playing in, Maguire added: “It’s not red!”
This revelation appears to rule out the current top three of Liverpool, Arsenal and Forest, while Manchester United, Brentford, Bournemouth and Southampton also appear to be walking free.