Peter Schmeichel says Manchester City should be deducted 25 points in each of the next five seasons after being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations.
City’s guilty verdict has provided an unshakable backdrop to the footballing world since its announcement last month, with the club found to have boosted their income by a staggering amount of more than £900m between 2009 and 2018.
The eight-time English champions continue to maintain their innocence and confirmed on October 2 that they have lodged an appeal against the decision.
A final outcome on the verdict could be made as late as the end of the January 2027, with the controversy and acrimonious debate set to rumble on over the coming weeks, months and, almost certainly, long into the future.
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It made for a red-hot atmosphere ahead of City’s return to action away to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, where Enzo Maresca’s players were met with a frosty and hostile reception from the Anfield faithful.
In the end, City emerged victorious, with second-half goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki proving decisive after the hosts were reduced to ten men thanks to Ryan Gravenberch’s sending off.
The result saw City reclaim their three-advantage at the top over Arsenal, who came from behind to beat Leeds a day earlier at the Emirates.
However, with City’s short and long-term future still far from certain, the potential sanctions the club could face remained the dominant talking point amongst Viaplay’s pundits after the full-time whistle.
‘I think, of course, you keep them in the Premier League,’ Manchester United legend Schmeichel, who ended his club career at Manchester City, said.
‘But for every year they’re in the Premier League, the next five years, they start on -25 points.
‘It’s also staying as a reminder to everybody else that when you cheat in the Premier League, and if you cheat all the other clubs, it’s heavy.
‘I think this is important: a transfer ban for five years and a big fine.
‘And then I think the ownership should be forced to sell the club. I don’t think they’re fit to run this football club and they’re not fit to run a football club in England.
‘Also, I think bans for everyone who has been in on this. They cannot operate in football.’
According to Schmeichel, it ultimately ‘doesn’t matter’ whether City are stripped of the three league titles they won between 2009 and 2018.
‘Take the titles away or let them keep the titles,’ the Dane added.
‘I don’t think it matters one way or the other.’
Jaap Stam, Schmeichel’s former team-mate at Old Trafford, meanwhile, called on the Premier League to ‘set an example to everybody else’ with their punishment.
‘I think they need to strip them of the titles because they’ve been cheating in getting them,’ the ex-Netherlands defender chimed in.
‘But I totally agree with Peter in that they need to get punished somehow.
‘I think it’s very important that the Premier League sets an example for everybody else that this is never going to happen again.’
City will look to pick up where they left off and make it seven wins from seven when they return to Premier League action at home to Ipswich next Saturday.
First, though, the Etihad stages what promises to be a compelling midweek Champions League clash between City and Paris Saint-Germain.
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