Multiple Premier League clubs are pushing for Manchester City to face both retrospective sanctions and restrictions on future activity if the club's appeal against its guilty verdict fails, according to sources within the league.
An independent commission determined that City breached Premier League financial regulations across the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons. The eight-time Premier League champions have filed an appeal against the decision. According to , City lodged a "comprehensive appeal" on 1 October 2026, seeking to overturn the commission's verdict.
Among top-flight executives, there is broad agreement that any sanctions imposed should address the period during which City violated the rules while simultaneously constraining their competitive capacity going forward. The commission's findings described arrangements that inflated revenues and reduced costs by approximately £900 million over nine seasons.
Would a single points deduction be sufficient?
At least four Premier League boardrooms believe a single points deduction leading to relegation to the Championship would be inadequate given the scale of City's violations. Club executives have expressed concern that such a one-time penalty would merely represent a temporary setback, given City's likely ability to secure immediate promotion back to the top flight.
There is acknowledged variation in opinion across the league regarding what constitutes appropriate punishment for the club's breaches. One senior club source argued that City should forfeit their titles won during the period of rule-breaking, with the view that honours should be removed entirely rather than redistributed to other clubs. This source cautioned that permitting City to retain the eight major trophies they captured during this era would undermine the credibility of the Premier League itself.
However, reflecting the diversity of views across the league, previously reported that most other clubs lack enthusiasm for title stripping as a sanction.
How might multi-season penalties work?
Several Premier League figures believe that spreading any points deduction across multiple seasons would prove more effective than concentrating it in a single campaign. Similarly, transfer restrictions spanning numerous windows are viewed as a mechanism that could substantially impede City's capacity to rebuild and return to the top division rapidly.
One club source characterised it as "bizarre, almost obtuse" if City were permitted to participate in the January transfer window while the appeal process remains active and sanctions remain unapplied.
A proposal that has gained some traction involves implementing a "tariff-based system" whereby City's historical league finishing positions would be adjusted downward through points deductions. Rival clubs could then receive compensation payments from City calculated on the difference between their actual finishing positions and where they would have finished under the adjusted standings.
What compensation models are being discussed?
The concept of financial reparations has emerged as a potential component of any eventual sanctions. One club source identified "merit" in the tariff-based approach, which would create a mechanism for quantifying and distributing compensation based on how the adjusted historical positions would have altered competitive outcomes and prize distributions.
Some club representatives have expressed frustration about feeling uninformed regarding the Premier League's handling of the matter, including uncertainty about the appeal timeline and when sanctions might be determined. However, sources indicated that executives demonstrate "empathy" and "understanding" of the challenging position the Premier League occupies given the gravity of the situation and the ongoing legal proceedings.
What is the timeline for the appeal process?
According to , Premier League rules stipulate that the appeal hearing must occur within 12 weeks of the appeal being lodged, with a decision required within 30 days following the conclusion of the hearing. The Premier League confirmed that the appeal will be heard privately by an independent Appeal Board, while the FA could also investigate the matter separately.
The commission found City guilty on three of four charges concerning failures to cooperate with the investigation, in addition to the substantive financial regulation breaches.
What happens next for City?
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is scheduled to address the squad collectively after players return from international duty on Thursday, ahead of the club's Premier League fixture against Liverpool on Sunday at 16:30 BST. This match represents City's first game since the verdict became public.
Merseyside Police indicated it has received enquiries regarding the fixture and confirmed it will deploy "an appropriate policing operation on the day." Liverpool sources characterised the match as "business as usual," with no additional security measures being implemented beyond the standard protocols that precede every home game. One source expressed hope that supporters would exercise restraint while acknowledging everyone "has the right to express their feelings."
The commission is expected to consider sanctions in a separate proceeding; no timeline for this determination has been announced, and City may appeal any sanctions that are ultimately imposed.
