Hitting Manchester City with points deductions across multiple seasons if they are found guilty of breaching financial rules has reportedly been proposed by a ‘senior figure’ in the game.
Pep Guardiola‘s side have won the last four Premier League titles in a row but the club’s reputation will be tarnished if found guilty of the 115 charges brought against them in the ‘Trial of the Century’, which begins tomorrow (Monday).
And City’s rivals feel that hitting them with a singular points deduction, or even relegation, would not be sufficient given that they could, in theory, be back fighting for major honours after only one campaign.
The independent commission overseeing the case can impose any punishment ‘it shall think fit’ once the hearing, which is expected to last approximately 10 weeks, has concluded.
According to The Telegraph, a penalty proposed by one ‘senior figure in the game’ involved City being hit with points deductions across multiple seasons in order to prevent them competing for titles over an extended period of time.
Another proposed punishment – expulsion from the Premier League – could make things hugely complicated for the reigning champions because the commission cannot force the English Football League (EFL) to accept City as a member.
The Blues have persistently denied wrongdoing since they were charged in February last year. The charges relate to alleged financial breaches between 2009 and 2018 including ‘failure to provide accurate financial information’, ‘breaching Premier League PSR rules’ and ‘failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations’.
City are expected to set out a rigorous defence and they say there is a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position”, adding that they “look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all”.
Guardiola, who was yet to be appointed in many of seasons in which the charges brought against City relate to, defended the club when it was put to him that La Liga president Javier Tebas had spoken to numerous Premier League sides who want the Blues punished.
“For the first time I agree with Tebas,” said Guardiola. “All the Premier League teams want us to be sanctioned, that is for sure. But that’s why I say to Mr Tebas and the Premier League teams, wait for the independent panel.
“Justice is there in a modern democracy. It’s not more complicated than that. I don’t know if he is a lawyer or the rest of the Premier League teams are lawyers, so I ask for that. It happened with UEFA. We believe we have not done anything wrong.”