Could Man City be relegated from the Premier League for FFP breaches?
Manchester City had hoped the 2022/23 season would lead to continued dominance of the Premier League, and potentially a first Champions League crown under Pep Guardiola.
But allegations of multiple breaches of the Premier League's Financial Fair Play rules has rocked City's world, with the club charged with over 100 breaches of rules during a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018.
An independent commission will now meet to analyse the evidence and decide City's fate, with a number of options available to the panel should the club be found guilty of wrongdoing.
Is relegation from the Premier League an option and has such a severe punishment ever been handed out?
What are Man City alleged to have done?
The club has been charged with multiple alleged breaches of the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play regulations following a four-year investigation.
The breaches are said to have occurred between 2009/10 until 2017/18, with allegations of breaching regulations surrounding player and manager contracts and the remuneration declared in their financial accounts. The club also failed to co-operate with the investigation.
A statement from the Premier League read: "The members of the Commission will be appointed by the independent Chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel.
"The proceedings before the Commission will, in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82, be confidential and heard in private. Under Premier League Rule W.82.2, the Commission's final award will be published on the Premier League's website.
"This confirmation is made in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1. The Premier League will be making no further comment in respect of this matter until further notice."
What have Man City said about the charges?
Responding to the Premier League's announcement, City released a statement of their own expressing their surprise at being charged.
“Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with,” the club have said in response.
“The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.
“As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”
Could Man City be relegated from the Premier League?
In short, yes. Though there's no precedent currently in place for relegating City from the top flight, that outcome is one of a number of options available to the independent commission.
As well as potential relegation, City could also face:
- Suspend a club from playing league matches
- Points deductions
- Recommend to the board that league matches be replayed
- Recommend to the board that the league expels the respondent club
- Order compensation
- Cancel or refuse registration of players
- Conditional punishment
- Order the club to pay costs
- Make such other order as it thinks fit