EFL threatens to block Manchester City if relegated amid FFP verdict

On Friday, a top source revealed that the English Football League (EFL) will push to deny Manchester City entry into any of its divisions should the club be relegated from the Premier League, after being found guilty of breaching financial fair play (FFP) 114 times. The club intends to appeal the ruling once it is informed of the exact punishments it faces.

Possible sanctions under review

Potential penalties include fines, points deductions, expulsion from the Premier League and the stripping of past titles. However, ’s editor Dan Roan has said that removing titles is unlikely, noting little appetite within the Premier League for such action.

Premier League and EFL positions

Ben Jacobs told that the Premier League is pushing for a record‑breaking points deduction or forced relegation, a move he described as unprecedented in English football. Jacobs added that the EFL is expected to side with the Premier League and refuse Manchester City entry into the Championship, League One or League Two.

If the EFL follows the Premier League’s stance, the club could face a ‘doomsday scenario’, potentially dropping to the fifth tier – the National League – or being expelled from football altogether. The situation remains fluid, with an independent panel yet to hold a sanction hearing, meaning the final outcome is still uncertain.

Enzo Maresca, who reported the EFL’s intention, highlighted the severity of the situation, underscoring the unprecedented nature of the possible punishment. Manchester City’s appeal will be closely watched, as the club seeks to mitigate the impact of the FFP breach findings.