Something tells me in the next few months we are going to get many theories from journalists regarding Man City’s future.
Since growing up, my favourite football writer has always been Oliver Holt and (now working for the Daily Mail) he claims sources close to the independent commission case are telling him that a realistic sanction for being guilty of 114 charges for financial breaches could essentially be two points deductions that would effectively guarantee relegation to the Championship and make an immediate return unlikely.
The EFL is a separate company to the Premier League, so doesn’t have to be dictated to, although it does have its own rules which state it can impose its own points deductions on any club relegated to it because of disciplinary sanctions.
This would be the only way to appease the anger of the rest of the football pyramid, who understandably fear the Sky Blues on 0 points would have the resources to take away a promotion spot worth 200 million.
That’s deemed the most realistic way to properly hurt the Citizens on and off the pitch where it makes an impact.
Would Relegation Really Hurt Manchester City?
On the same wages, the majority of the dressing room would be convinced to spend a year in the English second tier if they knew it was for only 12 months and then they go back to challenging for the Premiership.
Their fans have already made it clear they would embrace the change with defiance and humour, but would their smiles be removed if a punishment put them bottom of the Prem, which led to being bottom of the second tier, making promotion at the first try unrealistic?
That would mean no top-flight fixtures at the Etihad until at least the 2028-2029 season, which would then mean the earliest the stadium hosts the Champions League would be the 2029-2030 campaign.
That’s a long time for the likes of Haaland to have his career on hold.
Yet would that be enough to appease Gooners?
In the short term, it removes an obstacle in Arsenal’s bid to lift more Premierships, but long term I know peers who want more.
There isn’t a sanction that’s going to please everyone, but as Mr Holt also explains, those who want Man City expelled from the top flight and starting again at the bottom of the football pyramid might be disappointed.
Haaland v Eze (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Should Manchester City Be Given a Way Back?
As a brand, it’s hard for England to promote their league as the best in the world if they are erasing their eight-time champions from existence, and also would it be fair for an institution 146 years old to be ruined by the acts of one regime?
So whatever consequences they face, Man City need the chance to breathe again.
If you give them nothing, then they equally have nothing to lose.
If you want them to take their medicine, don’t give any lawyers reason to argue that a sanction is not proportionate.
So Gooners, would you be happy with a points deduction and relegation as Oliver Holt is suggesting, or do you want more blood?
Dan Smith
Would two points deductions and potentially years outside the Premier League be punishment enough for Manchester City, or would anything short of expulsion fail to deliver justice? Join the discussion in the comments below. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENT
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