Premier League clubs name ideal punishment for Man City after guilty verdict

Several Premier League clubs have reportedly made clear what punishment they want Manchester City to receive if the independent commission's guilty verdict is upheld after appeal.

After a lengthy independent commission hearing, City were found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League. The charges relate to the period between 2009 and 2018 – a period in which City won three Premier League titles.

Last week, the Premier League released the independent commission’s findings, saying City had used “sham” contracts to inflate revenue figures and reduce costs.

READ NEXT: New 'brutal' warning issued to Manchester City as Merseyside Police confirm Liverpool game plans

Premier League clubs make Man City punishment stance clear

City were found to have arranged disguised funding schemes worth more than £830million with commercial partners.

The commission also found City guilty of all but one of the charges relating to non-cooperation with the league’s investigation, saying that “a number of important club witnesses gave false evidence in key respects and that some knowingly gave untrue and dishonest evidence”.

Several potential punishments are possible, including suspension from playing in the league, points deductions, the replaying of matches, expulsion from the league, being ordered to pay compensation to other clubs, automatic relegation and even the stripping of titles.

On Tuesday (October 6), BBC Sport reported that numerous Premier League clubs want City to be hit with both “retrospective punishment” and a sanction for breaking the league’s financial rules.

According to a source, at least four Premier League clubs’ hierarchies believe a “one-hit” points deduction, which would likely result in relegation to the Championship, would not be fitting for City’s wrongdoing.

One senior club source told BBC Sport that City should be stripped of the three titles they won between 2009 and 2018, although there is no push for these honours to be redistributed to other clubs.

BBC Sport reports: “A number of Premier League figures therefore believe any points deduction should be split over multiple seasons, while there is also a sense that transfer bans that stretch over a number of windows would also significantly hinder City's ability to regain their top-flight status as quickly as possible.

“One club source also said it would be 'bizarre, almost obtuse' if City were able to trade in the upcoming January transfer window, if this process is ongoing and sanctions have not been applied.

“Some clubs cited feeling "in the dark" regards the Premier League, including around the chronology and timescales of the appeal and the sanctions hearing.

“However, sources said there was 'empathy' and 'understanding' about the difficult position the Premier League is in, given the gravity of this situation and the ongoing legal process.”

Meanwhile, the idea of a “tariff-based system” has been put forward with a view to rivals being compensated based on where they would have finished if City had not been in the league.

City maintain innocence with appeal

City have maintained their innocence and lodged an appeal on October 1. They say they have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists” to support their position.

"Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026 the Club lodged its comprehensive Appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter,” City said in a statement last week.

“The Club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.

“The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.

“We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete.”

The appeal hearing will last no more than 12 weeks, with a result expected within 30 days of its conclusion. A three-person commission will be involved in the appeal process.

City return to Premier League action against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday (October 11).

READ NEXT: Man City grant Erling Haaland request ahead of Liverpool game as 'spent' claim made