Troy Deeney's verdict on Man City punishment is causing huge controversy after guilty ruling

Former Watford striker Troy Deeney believes that Manchester City should not be relegated from the Premier League if they lose their appeal over being found guilty of Premier League financial breaches - and his reasoning has caused major controversy.

City announced on Friday that they would appeal after an independent commission found them guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. The club maintain their innocence and have reiterated their claim that they have 'irrefutable' evidence to support their position.

Various punishments have been floated in the event that City lose their appeal, including points deductions, fines, transfer bans and even expulsion from the Premier League. But Deeney - whose Watford side lost 6-0 to City in the 2019 FA Cup final - doesn't believe the latter sanction is necessary.

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Troy Deeney on Man City charges verdict

Writing in his column for The Sun, Deeney argues that relegating City could affect the Premier League's 'competitive edge' - comparing the situation to the decline of Serie A since Juventus were relegated as a result of the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal in 2006.

"Relegating City would mean a mass exodus of their players, likely leaving to go abroad since the club will surely be unwilling to sell them to their domestic rivals," Deeney writes.

"That can only strengthen the rest of Europe, paving the way for La Liga or the Bundesliga to pip the Premier League to the throne as the best league. Imagine losing Erling Haaland to Barcelona or Real Madrid.

"Serie A used to have stars like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Diego Maradona, but that level has dropped significantly. Now, Juventus are giving minutes to players like Lloyd Kelly, who - with all due respect - should never be able to represent a club of that stature after his time at Bournemouth and Newcastle."

Instead, Deeney suggests a cumulative sanction for City, which would see them punished over a number of seasons while giving them the opportunity to remain in the Premier League.

"I think they should be consigned to mid-table mediocrity by hitting them with a 30-point deduction for five consecutive seasons, as well as a three-year transfer ban and a mammoth fine. That would kill their development and stop them from being able to compete for the league."

"We don't need to mess about with retrospective punishments either," Deeney adds. "Nobody should be asking for City's titles to be handed to second place.

"I was on the receiving end of a 6-0 spanking with Watford in the 2019 FA Cup final. Those players earned that trophy and, even if there was some dodgy dealing going on above their paygrade, they beat us on the day fair and square. That was the best City team I have ever seen.

"What the players have done on the pitch can't be taken away from them - that is what sport is all about."

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Premier League fans react to Troy Deeney claims

While Deeney's argument surrounding Serie A may be true in terms of the league being at a lower standard, it can be argued that there are a multitude of other factors that have led to the league falling behind others in Europe.

And in response to his comments on City, some fans are not in agreement.

"You're comparing a massive club like Juve to a club that wasn't relevant before. You have to understand that clear difference," another said.

"What a pathetic, ill-thought through argument. What's the point of the law if the punishment doesn't fit the crime?" a third added.

"I don't agree, Man City are not the reason for the success of the Prem," a third opined.