Could Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal be awarded Premier League titles if Man City are stripped of trophies?

Manchester City's upcoming hearing over 115 charges relating to alleged breaches of financial rules has led to speculation over what could happen if the club is found guilty.

Pep Guardiola's side won their fourth consecutive Premier League title last month, with a 3-1 victory over West Ham on the final day ensuring they finished two points ahead of second-placed Arsenal.

The club is still awaiting a hearing into the alleged charges, which were brought against City back in February 2023 and relate to the time period between 2009 and 2018.

The charges include details relating to player and manager remuneration, accuracy of financial information, not co-operating with an investigation, profitability and sustainability, and not handing over documents as required over five seasons from the 2018/19 to 2022/23 campaigns.

City have strenuously denied all the charges brought against them and, in a statement at the time, said that they were 'surprised' at the issuing of the alleged breaches.

The Times have now reported that the hearing will take place in November 2024, and last for six weeks. A decision is expected in the early months of 2025.

Meanwhile, City have launched legal action against the Premier League regarding a separate matter.

As per The Times, the club claim that the league's Associated Party Transaction rules - designed to prevent clubs from inflating commercial deals with companies linked to their ownership - are 'unlawful', and argue in a legal document that they are victims of 'discrimination' and 'tyranny of the majority'. The club declined to comment when approached by The Times.

In terms of the 115 alleged charges, what punishments could City face in the event of a guilty verdict?

When the charges were initially announced, Sky Sports claimed that potential sanctions against the club in the event of a guilty verdict could include a points deduction, compensation, an order to pay costs or, in a much harsher punishment, expulsion from the Premier League.

It is unclear whether any points deduction would be applied across the current season, or done retrospectively across any of the nine seasons the Premier League has been investigating.

The Independent's Miguel Delaney, writing last year, said it is unlikely that City would be stripped of any trophies if they are found guilty.

He wrote: "Figures involved don't seem to think any prospective punishments would be retrospective or 'looking backwards (i.e.: splitting titles), but this is all being described as 'unprecedented'."

Finance expert Kieran Maguire told Sky Sports in February 2023 that it would be 'difficult' for rival clubs to prove they had missed out on silverware because of City's alleged breaches.

He said: "It will be difficult for another club to say that they lost a title or lost probably more in access to the Champions League."

There is no precedent of clubs being stripped of titles in English football history.

Back in 1990, Second Division club Swindon Town were charged with 35 cases of illegal payments made to players over a four-year period.

The Robins later admitted 36 charges of breaching league rules.

Swindon were denied promotion to the First Division after they had won the Second Division play-offs, and were relegated down to the Third Division - reduced to one relegation back down to the Second Division on appeal.