Of all the possible sanctions awaiting Man City, one of the most extreme would be expulsion from the Premier League.
To clarify, that’s not the same as a points deduction which ensures relegation.
This would be the club losing their membership. It would then be up to the EFL if they wanted to welcome the Sky Blues into their football pyramid. If they were not inclined, an institution that has existed for 146 years could be left in limbo.
That can only happen, though, if 15 of the other 19 teams in the English top division vote that’s what they would like to happen.
Even if the Citizens worked their way back up through promotions, they would have to be voted back in by their peers.
I have not seen the whole UK football family come together like this since the Super League. It’s been days of a community insisting they won’t tolerate cheating.
While tribalism is rife, make no mistake, the hurt is genuine, with little empathy for those at the Etihad and a feeling that this is long overdue.
So you might be surprised that a couple of executives, who didn’t want to be named, have indicated that if the entire top flight were polled regarding the future of the league leaders, it might not be as straightforward as you think.
For decades, the Premier League has been one of England’s most lucrative markets abroad. It becomes harder to tell the universe you’re the best league in the world if your eight-time champions have been erased.
Sport fundamentally is a business.
The Kroenke family want English football to have as much integrity as possible, especially when they own the champions.
Would the Premier League really vote to expel Man City?
That’s why it suits all parties to find a compromise as soon as possible.
Forget asterisks; unless they are successful with their appeal, it could become untenable for City to fulfil their fixture commitments based on the anger around them.
You’re weekly playing for points to top a table which will be tainted if you do. Even a section of their own fanbase may feel that way.
A title race with zero credibility pushes away customers, and that might be what the blue half of Manchester are relying on?
Only those in power truly know deep down if they feel they are innocent and their evidence hadn’t been translated properly, meaning they are in fact the ones who have been wronged.
Or are they paying some of the best lawyers to find every last loophole to drag this on and on?
If their appeal is not successful, their next way to kick this further down the road would be the High Court.
It seems odd to expect decency given the amount of charges, but you would like to think someone who works at City would try and be the voice of reason, pointing out that their reputation is battered, so they gain nothing by delaying their execution.
No trophy is worthwhile stalling for.
The likes of the Gunners want this over as soon as possible, partly to know if Maresca’s side is a threat in the near future, but also because if you are the face of a brand with a negative image, fewer sponsors and advertisers will want to work with you.
The High Court would be the final avenue for the guilty party to turn to, but that wouldn’t be a retrial.
A legal team would need to argue that the arbitration process was fundamentally unlawful, compromised by severe procedural unfairness or entirely outside of its legal jurisdiction.
Once they learn what their punishment is, they can go back a second time and argue that the ruling is not proportionate.
Those two phases could take months or even another year.
The High Court threshold for listening is high, though, so they would need to showcase how legislation from the Arbitration Act 1996 has been misinterpreted.
That’s if you believe lawyers at this point think that is achievable or are simply trying to delay everything.
That would be the last throw of the dice: prove Section 68, that the disciplinary commission or appeal board committed a serious blunder that caused substantial injustice.
Could a compromise stop this dragging on?
That would be the main reason not to vote for expulsion because, if you leave Man City with nothing, why wouldn’t they plead for their existence?
In a world where people talk off record, what if the punishment stopped at a points deduction that meant life in the Championship next season, a deadline to pay the approximate £900 million that was made without organic revenue, and restrictions on their FFP going forward?
Why that would represent middle ground is that City wouldn’t have the wealth they once relied on, but it would let them still breathe.
In a game of bluff, that offer would be take it or leave it.
On record, though, we are past that point.
City could be laughed out of the High Court as well, but given how long that adds to the process, and that Man City might have a point – the one time in this case they would have – is the juice worth the squeeze?
A High Court won’t listen to crying about a points deduction; they would only intervene if a ban was forever.
Should a club formed in 1880 be blown up because of the actions of a few?
A few who will get on with their lavish lifestyles and not lose much sleep?
Would that be fair on fans who were there long before them?
What happened in Italy in 2006 was a bigger scandal, and all lived to tell the tale. Drug takers in other sports have been given second chances, etc.
So why would Man City be treated more extremely?
City would argue that a forever ban is so wildly disproportionate, cruel and arbitrary that no reasonable tribunal in the history of English law would call it appropriate.
Hence, many may not vote to give a judge the opportunity to ask that question.
Dan Smith
If Arsenal were given a vote on Manchester City’s Premier League future, how do you think they should vote? Would expulsion be justified, or would relegation and financial restrictions be enough? Let us know in the comments below.
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I want Mancheater City punished severely, but I would stop short of expelling them. Yes they’ve stepped out of line in a big way.
But there are plenty of hefty punishments that can be dealt out to them without the need to expel. I don’t need to list them, as over the past week or so they’ve been aired by me and my fellow poster’s.
And as for it not being a good look to other country’s having you’re eight times Champions erased, I personally don’t give a hoot what they would think. Mancheater City deserve severe punishment, but as I say I would stop short of expelling them.
And just a thought for the City fans that actually are genuinely ashamed of what their club have been found guilty of. They don’t deserve to see their club expelled, the punishment if proportionate with their crimes will be punishment enough.
Just put you’re self in their position for a minute, and think how you’d feel in the Genuine City fans position.
I’ve read elsewhere that most of the Premier League’s bosses do not want City relegated, which leaves a worst/best case of massive points deductions, fines (not that they would make much difference), transfer bans and asterisks against all of City’s “achievements”. Perhaps an order compelling Mansour to sell up could be legally enforced to put an end to the money from that part of the world tainting British football (including our Emirates funding).
It’s unbelievable to think that a club caught cheating to financially speed up their rise up the league should threaten to act politically against Britain (investing and such like) It becomes tawdry and for City supporters, rather embarrassing if they’ve any morals.
You make a good point, Jax, about Mansour and ownership by nation states in general leaving the league and politicians in a difficult position when a case such as this occurs.
I don’t see the Emirates which is Dubai based as the same. It’s not an excuse because this is sponsorship rather than ownership.
Whilst I occasionally put a couple of bob on the lottery and the Gold Cup, I’m not much of a gambler and find the advertising for on line betting companies who have sponsored clubs just as morally corrupt.
I wouldn’t expel City but sort out some transfer embargo which would make it impossible to come straight back up having been given a suitably strong points deduction.
Me too mate despite some readers saying expulsion is factually going to happen
I fail to understand the logic here.
If and when the PL votes to remove Manchester City from the league, it will be because the appeal has failed and City are facing, at the very least, a season in the Championship. So why are the existing clubs worried?
Is it because of the Manchester City name; a name that is already tarnished beyond repair? If that is the case, a better case could be put for Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End, Notts County, and so many more great and deserved names from the past that now languish in lower leagues.
Is it because of the quality players that will have already been either sold or had their contracts amended or torn up? Despite what the ‘badge-kissers’ would have those of us on the terraces believe, they play for whichever team pays them the most, and that aside, why should they be loyal to a management that has deceived and humiliated them?
Is it because of the weakening of the league? That ship has already sailed, and the remaining MC team residue would be no stronger than the Championship side that replaces them.
Is it because we feel sorry for fans that have happily derided our teams and fans, while all the time stealing our players and cheating and lying their way to undeserved trophies? Is it because we of the ‘Red Cartel’ and so-called ‘Bottlers’, that have spent more than a century building deserved reputations should turn the other cheek? Should we, the abused, suddenly feel magnanimous towards a bunch of arrogant cheats who tried to destroy us with financial doping, lying, cheating and verbal abuse?
If City, their management, lawyers and fans had shown the slightest remorse or embarrassment for their actions, I would probably err on the side of leniency, but they have refused to do any such thing.
Instead, they have lied and delayed, insulted our intelligence, and threatened our existence, and they continue to do so. They have perpetuated the process to the point that they would happily destroy the PL and the country’s economy if they thought they could get away with it.
Now, they are even threatening the elected government of our country, for God’s sake!
Feel sorry for them? Think their survival would enhance the PL? Think that they deserve our compassion? Think that our magnanimity would be good for the reputation and quality of our League?
YOU MUST BE JOKING!!!
Because you wouldn’t vote for them to be relegated, you would only vote for expulsion.
There’s a huge difference
A points deduction/ relegation they can’t really get far in high court
Essentially a life time ban though would give them grounds to drag this on and argue legally that sanction is not proportionate
You entirely missed my point.
Nah think you have
The Prem would rather they have a points deduction and relegated that way then expulsion because expulsion drags this on and goes to High court
That’s the answer to the question you asked lol
Hypocrisy at it’s finest. Your reputation was tarnished over a century ago and you show absolutely no remorse. Where are your promotion medals from the 2019/20 season? You’ve been in the top division ever since, courtesy of a fiddle. Your paw prints are all over the biggest cheat in football history; FFP. What was the benefits of being members of the G14 cartel? And why didn’t City just give themselves interest free loans like your club did to circumvent the rules you helped rig?
YOU MUST BE JOKING!!!
Promoted in season 2019/20🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I am assuming you are referring to the 1919 season, Spud.
May I direct you to an article on Arsenal.com where the subject is written about in depth. Nowhere was it suggested that Spurs were cheated out of a chance to remain in the league.
SueP, you’d have thought Spud would be more concerned with his clubs 3rd attempt at their 5th relegation.
He does come across as bitter and twisted Jax. 🥳
Not relevant though mate
That’s like me being on trial for murder and my defence being ….well in 1912 this happened and this person got away with it
That’s what children do and common in mental health, it’s called deflection.
If Man City knowingly broke the rules there is no excuse
Spud, oh dear, you really should provide proof when making an accusation, but you can’t, as there is no proof.
Here’s a few things that your club in N17 were found guilty of and punished for.
1893, you played a player by the name of Erne Payne who was registered to Fulham. You lot were suspended for 2 weeks and kicked out of the FA Amateur Cup.
1908, kicked out of the Southern League.
1980’s, undisclosed illegal loans and cash payments to 15 players.
Stay in your lane fella, which is way below that of The Arsenal.
banter aside have you ever once actually thanked Arsenal
Expulsion or relegation makes no difference in this situation.
It would spell the end of Man City.
If they are expelled or relegated they would immediately fall foul of the squad cost ratio of 85% which would effectively mean an immediate fire sale of their squad to meet this financial requirement or further sanctions.
If they manage to get back to the Premiership and were operating in a financially honest way they would be at the level of West Ham or Sunderland given their true global position and without the false “income” generated by sham deals and sales.
So it doesn’t really matter who votes what I just cannot see them surviving this..
That’s a really great point.. so hence a massive points deduction has to be min 60 points or else they coukd still stay up.if 3 teams at the bottom are worse
But then if relegated they would have to dk a firewall as you say to meet current regulations
Another element should whether PL now investigate from 2018 / 19 onwards as presumably they wouldn’t have changed their business model if they thought they believe they are innocent .. and that could be am even worse penalty .. though it’s interesting to see how much they have sold players for jn the last 5 to 6 years so presumably they knew there was an issue. No way Savinho is worth £70mn +
Expulsion or relegation is very different
You rather one day be back in the Prem in 12th then banned forever
I can see them surviving, they have too to stop this dragging on
I see Dan still thinks the “Italian Job” is a bigger scandal than the City decision to cheat for at least nine years and then threaten the UK government to stop funding any agreed future development!!
Meanwhile, we know the Haaland transfer was not legitimate, HMRC are being urged to get involved, city seem prepared to drag this out by denying all charges and the most successful league in the world hasn’t got a clue what’s going to happen next!!
Calls are being made to investigate the likes of Mr Oliver and his history of refereeing matches involving city and the old PGMOL allocation of matches.
Individual clubs are reported to be lining up compensation claims against city including The Arsenal of course.
No mercy was shown to Juve or Rangers in Scotland come to that and the precedent has already been set with the deduction of points awarded against Everton and Forest.
The rules are there for every single club to abide by and chelsea along with city ignored them and cheated.
The fans of both clubs didn’t cheat and one hopes the players didn’t either (although I fail to understand how Haaland didn’t know) but the owners definitely have.
All the trophies won during this time should be taken away and not awarded to anyone else.
City should be docked the same amount of punishment that Everton and Forest received for similar behaviour and further points deducted for any other cheating.
The owners should be disbarred from owning any football club in the UK.
City will survive just as Juve and Rangers did and we shouldn’t be allowing a foreign country to dictate what punishment should be imposed.
To think that the “Italian Job” was a bigger scandal than this is and will become is nonsense.
Absolutely 100%!!!!!!! To also compare this Evil Scandal to Super League notion which hasn’t materialised
Obvious question
Why does it matter lol ?
Like wrong is wrong right
Why does it matter which scandal is worse
That’s like saying if an Olympian is banned for drugs oh but Lance Armstrong is worse lol
Why does it matter
Why does it matter what anyone says Dan?
But you always quoting what others have said to bolster your opinions and prove your correct.
As for how many other teams are involved – this involves every team that has played in the PL since the 09 season, every team that city (and chelsea) have come up against in the two domestic cups and every club that they faced in the CL.
It matters because you referred to it in your article, dismissing this as not being as serious….why did you mention it to begin with? lol
I don’t agree mate
Mentioning what happened in Italy doesn’t make this not serious
Yes I think Italy was worse because it left approx 5 clubs with points deduction and further hurt the financial aspect of Seria A
In this case if there is a point deduction it will be one club and I don’t think it will financially hurt the Prem like it did in Italy
I point out what is factual or not
So for example I was told that Man City will be bottom of the Prem by Xmas. So that’s factual …..it will happen or not
Me saying I believe Italy was worse is my opinion that can never be proven correct or wrong
Why does it matter though ?
So if you think this is worse and I disagree ….that’s okay
It was someone’s opinion that City would be bottom at Christmas but you take it literally and then proceed to call out others for saying it.
What does it matter ?
It doesn’t matter as long as the goalposts aren’t moved when one person says something and comparisons made – only to find one can’t do it another time. lol
By the time this city issue is resolved we will be able to assess the damage and that’s factually correct.
Of course you were factually proven to be incorrect regarding Liverpool fans in Paris but I don’t believe you actually acknowledged that – so why this incessant need to quote others in order to prove them wrong?
I’m only playing you at your own game Dan.
No mate
It’s someone opinion so then I say ….no it won’t happen which is my opinion
Well no we will know at Xmas if they are bottom or not just like I will know by Sunday if they have been factually relegated or not lol
I don’t need to prove anyone wrong . If you go and read it back your see it’s others having issues for me dare pointing out it won’t happen
I don’t mind you playing me at my own game mate lol
I believe Hillsborough was also mentioned as well amba.
That was a tragedy that affected individuals and their families.
It became a scandal when the Thatcher government, police and the media tried to cover it up and blame Liverpool fans!!
Not the first time Liverpool fans have been blamed for something that others created and that took decades before the truth came out.
Yeah another example of a worse scandal
Again though , doesn’t make it okay what City have done
It wasn’t a football scandal Dan it was a football tragedy.
The scandal was the establishment trying to stitch up Liverpool fans, hiding the truth and then lying about it through the courts.
We have the proof of this after decades of lies and deceit by the establishment and that, of course, involved one club.
Yeah I agree
And it was mentioned because you asked me to name what I personally felt were bigger scandals
my comment blocked
Read up on it dude and also go look at what happened in France in early nineties
My line is bribery on the pitch will always top what happens in the boardroom
Both are terrible though
Or Turkey ?
Imagine recording of players admitting they helped lose in Arsenal’s last 16 games ?
And Stan Kroenke going to jail
That would be huge
We only don’t focus on it because we follow Arsenal but there’s been some huge scandals
There’s a recently revealed referee scandal in Spain.
… concerning probably the biggest club in the world.
Yeah Jax it was named Negriera Scandal whereby Guardiola’s Barca had admitted to paying bonuses for several years to a deputy head of the ref body like ProRef
When Guardiola was asked by a young journalist he tried to gaslight him rather than answering the question
This dude Pep Guardiola is smart both on and off the pitch; let’s wait for his legacy. I read that in the summer he was told about the Panel’s verdict
Amba, yeah, it was a bit surprising, the way that he quit City. He obviously had that info. Can’t say that I blame him TBH.
Read by who ?
Just something that was made up
amba, also 5 of his backroom staff left.
No smoke without fire, as the saying goes.
HD
Certainly the coming was strategic so was the exit. Soriano, Begristain and Guardiola were together at Barca then ditto at City. Inseparable guys! Btw the 3 of them were named in the Negriera Scandal.
Yeah but where did you read it or who reported it
Or is it something you want to believe is true lol
It’s all over the place. Just a quick check this morning, and I see it on: BBC, ESPN, Sky, Goal.com, YouTube and Inside World Football.
Available at “Footballinsider 4 October 2026”
Under the Negriera Scandal FC Barcelona admitted paying 7m to the Ref Committee deputy head (Negriera) between 2001 and 2018. Guardiola was Barca manager between 2008 and 2012.
This one involves one clubs
In 2006 numerous clubs got relegated, had position changed or were banned from playing in Europe
Also read up the French one mate , very interesting
Ken, it’s pure comedy gold for anyone to say that the scandal in Italy in 2006 is a bigger scandal than what Shamchester City have done 😂😂.
independent.co.uk 30 Sep 2026 explains the Man City scandal is the biggest in sporting history due to its industrial sophistication, geopolitical factors etc
In a writers opinion
FFP and it’s designers have been cheating for nearly two decades.
Separate argument
Expulsion of City114 is obviously not the way to go. However, the ownership cannot be allowed to remain the same. Abramovich gave up ownership of Chelsea essentially via a forced sale under conditions not of his own making and I don’t see any reason why something similar with punitive measures couldn’t be negotiated with the Abu Dhabi ownership.
ken1945
Around Hillsborough it was easy to blame Liverpool fans due to Heysel tragedy.
In Calciopoli most teams were implicated in corruption; it was a case of choosing the most corrupt from the lesser ones. The sympathy level obviously lowers.
In Shamchester case one absolutely smart club was fooling conning the more than 50 innocent clubs who only trusted the league’s regulatory mechanism; the timeline (9 years) is much longer than Calciopoli
Nah once you can’t believe what is happening on the pitch is legit it’s not sport
I also felt the aftermath for Italy was worse then what it will be for England
5 clubs were deducted points I believe
That would be like you finding out Arsenal are stripped of title and will be in Championship with a points deduction,…….and Chelsea deducted points …..and Villa
…..and Everton and Spurs
Whereas this impacts one club i
Partly because Juventus are one of the faces of Seria A where as City being say relegated won’t stop TV desks / sponsors , etc as much
Opinions though dude
I agree it only impacts one club NOW Dan, but it most certainly impacted more than five clubs while city and chelsea WERE cheating- my estimate is around forty clubs that have been affected and I’m sure that’s a conservative figure.
The other thing to consider is that it seems they were still at it while being investigated if what the ex sporting director at Borussia Dortmund said about Haaland’s transfer is true and there is no reason to disbelieve it.
City did “A Leeds”, in reverse. So let the punishment be proportionate…😁
I am not for the expulsion of City, but they do need to be severely punished. If they fail their appeal and all charges stand, l would expect their PL trophies to be voided but not awarded elsewhere, a large points deduction for the next 5 years, a transfer ban for the same period and a heavy fine, even though they have bags on money. The fine should off set the PL’s legal fee’s plus a large sum to be used in grass roots football.
I’m happy this Dan’s article started on the top with a Welcome to Shamchester a judge holding a law book picture. Excellent powerful message by Dan
“Abu Dhabi Government, Manchester City and PM Burnham” by Adam Crafton, The Athletic, 5 October 2026
After seeing the six week suspended ban just imposed on the Southampton manager, lets just hope the premier League are just as ruthless with Mancheater City. 🤣😂
Hope rivals appeal esp the direct victims Boro
Amba,
To be fair, the punishment that the club actually got was fair.
But I can’t help thinking the manager will be sitting at home tonight with a rather large smile on his face having been treated so leniently.
Amba,
Just to add to my last post of 6.40pm. Middlesborough don’t need to appeal regards the Southampton manager’s so-called punishment.
As Middlesborough was readmitted to the Play-off final. The fact they didn’t win that had nothing to do with Southampton.
I hope the club vote for their expulsion, and should be open about it.
DEREK
Yes you’re right Boro have no moral grounds as they’ve spurned their given chance.
This coach however should have received some sort of serious fines and sanctions for orchestrating the spygate. I think in his country Germany sporting espionage is permissible under certain circumstances.
DEREK
For perspective, last season a Czech coach admitted to secretly filming his women players while they’re in dressing and shower rooms. UEFA gave him a lifetime ban.
Btw the regulation still allows spying if it was done before 72 hours of the scheduled match