Gary Neville names ‘only appropriate punishment’ for Man City if appeal against Premier League ruling fails

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has suggested Manchester City’s owners must step down should the club’s guilty verdict be upheld on appeal.

Since City were found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League after an independent commission review, several potential sanctions have been put forward.

All charges related to the nine years between 2009 and 2018. City won three Premier League titles during this time.

READ MORE: FA release statement over Manchester City FFP case with warning over 'integrity of the game'

Gary Neville suggests City’s owners step down if guilty verdict stands

Potential punishments include points deductions, suspension from playing in the league, compensation, relegation or expulsion from the league, and even the stripping of titles.

Neville, who owns League Two side Salford City FC, even went as far as to suggest City’s owners, Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), should not be able to retain their status should the guilty verdict stand after an appeal, as they have “dragged English football through the mud”.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville said: “It's hard to see how the Man City owners can comply with the owners' and directors' test in this country if the verdict remains.

“The reality is, because of improper owners of clubs, there are a lot stricter rules in place. It'll be difficult for the Man City owners to retain their status.

“Clubs are protected assets, community assets, because of the meaning of them to fans and people of a city, so owners have to comply with the rules and laws set out in the test.

“The only appropriate punishment is to apply the owners' and directors' test, firstly, and then to look at the achievements over the period and determine whether they should still stand.

“Those two things would have the most direct consequence on English football. If I was Man City, I'd snap your hand off for a fine or points deduction, even if it was 60 points, because that would only damage you for a moment in time.

“To own a football club in this country is one of the greatest responsibilities you can have. It needs to be taken very seriously.

“We can't get bogged down with fines and points deductions, concentrate on the two most important things: the achievements during that time and what happens to the owners and executives who oversaw that period.”

What is the latest update on the case?

According to a lengthy statement issued by the Premier League earlier this week, City have been found guilty of arranging disguised funding schemes described as “sham” contracts worth more than £830million with commercial partners to inflate revenue figures and appear to reduce costs.

City deny any wrongdoing and say they have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists” to support their position.

The club also confirmed earlier today (October 2) that they had lodged an appeal, issuing the following statement: “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.

“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.”

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