Man City braced for record points deduction guaranteeing relegation after rule breaches – or HARSHER ‘nuclear option’ You Should Know

MANCHESTER City face being dumped out of the Premier League after being found guilty of a huge raft of financial rule breaches in a bombshell judgment. 

They were condemned on the vast majority of 130 charges covering the trophy-laden period from 2009 to 2018 — and could face penalties including a massive points deduction. 

Bosses at the club, currently top of the table with superstars including Erling Haaland, look certain to appeal. 

City’s rivals could be handed retrospective Premier League titles, it was claimed last night. 

Relegation or even expulsion from the Prem were also being mooted as possible punishments after it emerged the club had lost its lengthy legal battle. 

City were condemned on the vast majority of 130 charges by a three-person independent panel.  

But sources said players, fans and staff were braced for a record deduction of 70 to 80 points — guaranteeing a drop into the Championship. 

The crackdown — yet to be decided by the Premier League — could also include retrospective penalties which would hand past titles to runners-up. 

Manchester United and Liverpool were second-placed sides when City won the league in the period covering the alleged breaches — 2009 to 2018. 

It could hand a first Prem winners’ medal to Kop idol Steven Gerrard. There may be a fourth for ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who was in charge of Man United at the time, and a 14th to Red Devils’ icon Sir Alex Ferguson. 

Another option reported to be on the table last night included a ban from European competitions. 

Four clubs — Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United and Spurs — have already served legal notices reserving the right to each seek £100million compensation. 

The long, costly legal battle began in November 2018 when financial documents were leaked to German paper, Der Spiegel. 

Several probes followed before the club was charged in 2023 with inaccurate financial reporting, disguising player and manager pay, breaching UEFA financial fair play rules and Premier League sustainability rules and failing to cooperate with investigations. 

At the time, club chiefs said they were “surprised, given the vast amount of detailed materials that the Premier League has been provided with”. 

Then-manager Pep Guardiola said he was “fully convinced” they would be found innocent. 

Last night the club, currently top of the table, hit back with a defiant statement suggesting a “partisan” decision had been made. 

A spokesperson said: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.

 “As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023. 

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.” 

During the period of the charges, all under the ownership of Emirati royal Sheikh Mansour, City won three Premier League titles, three League Cups and the FA Cup once. 

City chiefs were last night braced for the possibility of a retrospective points deduction, which could see it lose some of their treasured silverware. 

In 2011/12 they won their first Premier League trophy, on goal difference, from Wayne Rooney and Sir Alex’s Man United, thanks to Sergio Ageuro’s dramatic late winner. 

They finished two points above Gerrard’s Liverpool in 2013/14, while in 2017/18 they romped home with 100 points, 19 more than Marcus Rashford’s Man United in second.  

Last night the Wikipedia page for past English champions had the word “cheated” next to City’s three contentious Prem triumphs. 

Insiders say a current points deduction is more likely — but would need to be huge to reflect the gravity of the offences and could plunge the club from the top to the bottom of the table. 

Total expulsion from the Premier League is also a “nuclear option” — or there may be a record fine of up to £100million.

Yesterday’s findings also opens the door to clubs beaten by the Sky Blues in cup finals to demand retrospective silverware.  

They include Stoke, who lost the 2011 FA Cup final 1–0, and Sunderland defeated 3-1 in the 2014 League Cup final. 

Fans last night demanded tough action. Man United supporter Paul Allen, a 36-year-old IT manager, said: “City won a title ahead of United when they weren’t playing by the rules and should pay the price.

“I’m looking forward to us getting the Premiership we were robbed of — and the victory parade for Sir Alex and all the stars who earned it.”

Chelsea fan Rich Wilson, a 65-year-old civil servant, added: “When Rangers were caught at it in Scotland, they were busted down to the lowest league and that should happen to City — right down to League Two.” 

It comes after City made a dream start to the new season — following a massive £450million splurge in the summer transfer window. 

Big-money signings included Argentine World Cup star Enzo Fernandez for a British record-equalling fee of £125million. 

Current manager Enzo Maresca took over in the summer, replacing Guardiola after his spectacular ten-year stint.

Guardiola, who won his first Prem title in 2017/18, said when the charges were first laid: “We are lucky we live in a marvellous country where everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

“We didn’t have this opportunity, we are already sentenced. I am fully convinced we will be proven innocent.”  

Manuel Pellegrini won the 2013/14 title while the club’s first Prem was lifted by Roberto Mancini, who denied wrongdoing after he was alleged to have received a mystery pay bump.

Department of Culture, Media and Sport Committee Chair Dame Caroline Dinenage MP said the verdict has “profound implications for our national game”.  

She added: “The extraordinary length and cost of this process raise serious concerns, and the affair again gives rise to questions about financial fairness across the football pyramid.  

“The matter must be allowed to take its course and due process must be followed. 

“I sincerely hope any further stages are completed as swiftly as is reasonably possible.”