Manchester City could face a points deduction after they were charged with over 100 alleged breaches of financial rules by the Premier League, which would be a boost to Arsenal's title hopes if the Citizens are found guilty and the sanction is applied.
City have been charged with allegedly breaking financial rules over a nine-year period, between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons.
The charges include details relating to player and manager remuneration, accuracy of financial information, not co-operating with an investigation, UEFA regulations, and profitability and sustainability, as well as not handing over documents as required over five seasons from 2018/19 to the current 2022/23 campaign.
Advert
Alongside a list of the charges brought to City, the Premier League released a statement which reads: "In accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1, the Premier League confirms that it has today referred a number of alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules by Manchester City Football Club (Club) to a Commission under Premier League Rule W.3.4."
The Times reporter Martyn Ziegler has since revealed that City cannot appeal any sanction awarded to the club to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Following the Premier League's statement, City released a statement of their own. They say they are 'surprised' by the issuing of the alleged breaches, 'given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with', and deny wrongdoing.
Advert
City add that they welcome the review of the matter by an independent commission.
If the club is found guilty of the alleged breaches, what are the punishments? And how could they affect Arsenal?
Can Man City receive a points deduction?
Should the independent commission find City guilty, they can choose to award a range of different punishments.
Advert
These range from compensation, conditional punishment and ordering the club to pay costs, as per Sky Sports.
But harsher sanctions include points deductions, expulsion from the league and the cancelling of player registrations.
If City were to be deducted points, it is unclear at this stage whether the sanction would apply to the current season, or any previous seasons in which they were found guilty of the alleged financial breaches.
If it is this season, however, it would weaken their position in the current table. They are five points behind league leaders Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
Advert
Any points deduction of more than three points would put them behind third-placed Manchester United in the table, who, at eight points in arrears to Arsenal, would become the Gunners' leading challengers for the title this season.
However, Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol has suggested that the independent commission's verdict is unlikely to be arrived at quickly, adding: "I would discount the chances of anything happening this season."
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Premier League, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United
