Man City FFP Liverpool and Man Utd demand harsh punishment
Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 financial‑fair‑play charges brought by the Premier League, while Liverpool and Manchester United are already rallying for the harshest possible sanction, even as City maintain their innocence and prepare an appeal.
Verdict and charges
The independent commission concluded that the breaches spanned a nine‑year period between 2009 and 2018, a time in which City won the league three times. The club were convicted on virtually every area examined, leaving only a single charge unproven. The ruling was issued at the Etihad Stadium, the home of Manchester City.
Rival clubs' demands
Both Liverpool and Manchester United, who finished runners‑up to City in the seasons affected by the breaches, are expected to call for the maximum punishment – a fine, a points deduction of up to 50 points, expulsion from the Premier League or the stripping of titles. Former Everton chief executive officer Keith Wyness said the likelihood of relegation is high and that the appeal would be “tenuous at best”. He added that the appeal process should last no more than two or three months.
City's response and appeal
City have repeatedly insisted they have done nothing wrong and remain innocent. Graeme Bailey, a transfer insider, revealed that the club are planning to appeal the verdict on points of law rather than on the factual findings. The appeal is expected to be resolved within a short window,
Manchester City under a historic Premier League sanction
Pundit Danny Murphy, a former Liverpool striker, argued that stripping the Premier League titles would be pointless because the runners‑up would never truly experience the triumph. He suggested the most likely outcome would be relegation to the Championship, a transfer ban and a “record‑breaking” fine. Chris Waddle echoed the sentiment that a fine alone would not affect the Cityzens, who are “so rich” that only a severe sanction would send a clear message.
Historical context shows the stakes for United and Liverpool. Manchester United finished second behind City in the 2011/12 and 2017/18 campaigns, while Liverpool were runners‑up in 2018/19. Both clubs therefore stand to benefit from any retroactive title reallocation.
Premier League clubs could use Section W to sue Manchester City
The contrast between rival clubs demanding the toughest penalty and City’s confidence in a swift, legal rebuttal highlights the uncertainty that will dominate the Premier League’s next weeks. Whatever the final decision, the outcome will reshape the competitive landscape of English football.