Reports: Manchester City face relegation-sized points deduction

According to claims in the British press, Manchester City face a points deduction large enough to guarantee relegation. The punishment is also expected to include an additional points deduction that would keep the club in the Championship for at least one more season.

The case and the appeal

An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League. The case concerns allegations that the club used "sham" contracts to overstate revenue by more than £900 million, breached spending limits and failed to cooperate fully with investigators. The club has consistently denied wrongdoing, has appealed the decision and believes it will prove its innocence. No sanction has yet been imposed.

The claims say the most likely outcome is a points deduction that would make relegation unavoidable, plus a heavy fine. The Premier League is reportedly pushing for the sanctions to be announced before the appeal process ends. The additional penalty is said to be aimed at preventing an immediate return to the Premier League. Outright expulsion is seen as unlikely, as it is believed it would cause unprecedented chaos in the English football system.

It is not certain when the process will conclude. The decisions are expected to be made public once the entire process is complete.