Man City face two-season Championship exile over Premier League financial breaches

Manchester City could face a huge points deduction that would relegate them to the Championship for two seasons if they are punished over alleged financial rule breaches, according to reports. The Daily Mail, as reported by The Sun, claims Premier League chiefs are pushing to announce the club’s punishment before the outcome of their appeal is revealed.

The report suggests a “swingeing” points deduction is the most likely sanction, potentially followed by another deduction to keep City in the second tier for an additional season. However, expulsion from the top flight is considered “unlikely” because of the disruption it could cause across the English Football League.

City have consistently denied wrongdoing and insist they possess “irrefutable evidence” to clear their name. The club appealed the independent commission’s findings on October 1 after being found guilty of 114 of the initial 115 charges relating to financial rule breaches. The case, covering a nine-season period, is expected to reach a conclusion around Christmas or early next year, although the appeal process could affect the timeline. No final punishment has been announced.