Manchester City face ‘drastic’ sanctions, says club’s former chairman

What the report says

Manchester City could face major punishment if the club is ultimately found guilty in its long-running Premier League financial case, according to former chairman David Bernstein. Al Jazeera reported that Bernstein said sanctions could be “drastic” and that a monetary fine would not be enough if the charges are upheld. He also urged the appeal process to be handled quickly, warning that prolonged proceedings would be damaging for English football.

The case involves 115 charges brought by the Premier League in 2023 over alleged breaches of financial rules between 2009 and 2018. According to the article, City have denied wrongdoing throughout and are understood to plan an appeal if a guilty verdict is confirmed. The club has said it believes it has followed due process during the eight-year investigation. A hearing before an independent commission began in September 2024, but the Premier League had not issued an official announcement at the time of publication.

Al Jazeera said the possible punishments being discussed include a heavy points deduction and, in extreme cases, expulsion from the Premier League. The report also noted that City previously had a UEFA European ban overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2020. The issue matters because City have been one of England’s most successful clubs in recent years, and the outcome could have major consequences for competition, governance and the wider game.