Manchester City case don become one of di biggest talking points. Di question na whether dem go strip City of di eight trophies dem win between 2009 and 2018, di period wey dem accuse dem of breaking Premier League financial rules.
Social media full of rival fans wey dey hope say dis outcome go happen. But BBC Sport hear say inside Premier League, both di organisation and clubs, appetite for past titles to be stripped from City no dey.
Dat no mean say e don finish. Di decision go come from independent panel wey never hold ‘sanction hearing’. So e no fit rule out, even though points deduction, huge fine or possibly expulsion from Premier League be tings wey many tink more likely.
BBC Sport analyse dis difficult issue and di decision di panel dey face now.
Almost two years ago, Jose Mourinho raise possibility say im former club Manchester United fit get 2018 Premier League title wey Manchester City hold. Under Mourinho, United finish second to City by 19 points in 2018, im final full campaign for Old Trafford. City always deny wrongdoing. But now we know dem don find dem guilty of majority of 115 charges. Was Mourinho right?
Premier League rules no directly mention such sanction. Fine, points deduction or expulsion na possible punishments. But rules allow disciplinary commission panel to impose penalty ‘as it shall think fit’. Dat theoretically fit include retrospectively-applied points deductions, or stripping of titles.
Many go argue say if upheld after appeal, nature and scale of wrongdoing City found guilty of warrant such sanction on basis say titles won unfairly, and any misrepresentation of revenue and costs give dem crucial competitive advantage. City accused of wide range of rule breaches, centred around claims say dem inflate sponsorship revenue from connected companies and make other ‘off di books’ payments to circumvent football financial rules.
So with cloud over trophy-laden era City enjoy since takeover by Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour in 2008, could asterisks now apply to titles City win during period wey dem find say dem break rules? Could dem leave blank? Or, as Mourinho imply, reallocate to teams wey finish runners-up to City?
Those clubs na: Premier League 2011-12 Manchester United; 2013-14 Liverpool; 2017-18 Manchester United; FA Cup 2010-11 Stoke City; EFL Cup 2013-14 Sunderland; 2015-16 Liverpool; 2017-18 Arsenal; Community Shield 2012-13 Chelsea.
Such move go threaten to open can of worms, raise questions over other accomplishments. For instance, scepticism dey towards various trophies Chelsea win for 2010s, after club found to have made catalogue of secret payments to agents over transfers between 2011 and 2018. Some go ask say if retrospective action apply to City, no be same suppose happen to Chelsea?
E impossible to know exactly to what extent City benefit on field from rule breaches. And which players dem may not have been able to afford if dem adhere to regulations. And wetin about period between December 2018 and February 2023, when City stand accused of failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations? Should retrospective action apply then too?
Jurgen Klopp Liverpool finish runners-up to Pep Guardiola City twice during that time, by single point in both 2019 and 2022. Last year, German coach joke say im go host party for im garden if former club suddenly awarded those titles. Some go conclude say rule breaches between 2009 and 2018 help City lay foundations on which Guardiola build to achieve so much success, culminating in Treble triumph of 2023. Does that era come into scope? Where e end?
For some, mass reallocation of titles over such long period go risk making mockery of Premier League history, jeopardising im reputation and commercial viability. Others go argue say some 17 years after first alleged breach, and with City accused of distorting competition over multiple seasons, serious damage don already happen to league standing.
And while no Premier League precedent dey, such concerns never prevent such punishments before for football. Juventus have Serie A titles dem win in 2005 and 2006 revoked as result of Calciopoli match-fixing scandal, when five Italians teams penalised for attempting to influence results by picking certain referees. Authorities leave first title blank, with second reallocated to Inter Milan.
British precedent dey too. Elgin City win 1992-93 Highland League, but later dem strip dem of title after dem find say dem field ineligible players.
Examples dey for other sports. In 2012, Lance Armstrong stripped of im seven Tour de France titles by UCI, cycling governing body, for doping. And reallocation of medals don become commonplace for athletics as result of positive drugs tests wey fit emerge long after events don happen.
For cases like City own, involving financial rule breaches, argument for such punishment more complicated. Many go see am as unfair say players and fans wey no connect to any rule breaches suppose suffer by losing titles. And with some suggesting say relations between United Arab Emirates and UK fit come under serious pressure by dis ruling, one can only imagine diplomatic tensions if past titles then taken away from club.
On Friday, former City midfielder Rodri dismiss talk of club being stripped of some titles dem win. ‘What we did, dem cannot take out of us,’ he add. ‘E something wey money no pay. Effort pay am, damage pay am, being shoulder to shoulder every day pay am. I can tell you say everything deserved, and I glad say I fit live one of best eras of English football here.’
Others, however, go insist say rewriting history na only way to restore competition official record, and reward clubs wey compete inside rules. In terms of retrospective action, compensation claims for lost earnings wey several clubs dey consider launching against City more likely than stripping of titles.
A lawyer tell me: ‘Di question no be whether clubs fit take legal action. Na: Where di line of people wey get case actually end? Di clubs wey no win/qualify/stay up; di players wey no get bonuses, contract extensions; di staff wey miss out on bonuses; di agents wey no get their uplift on player deals. E endless and potentially so destructive to whole ecosystem.’
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak don reaffirm im belief say club go prove their innocence for Premier League 115 charges case following reports on Friday. Sky Sports News understand say process dey move to appeal stage, after reports claim say most charges against club for breaking Financial Fair Play rules found proven.
But for statement released on Saturday afternoon, City chairman talk say ‘our confidence and intent in proving club innocence just as strong as when dis begin.’
Al Mubarak tell City supporters: ‘Following Friday media reporting, many of una go don spend una evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here na wetin I tell my family: The Premier League process still get long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving club innocence just as strong as when dis begin.’
‘Plenty tings dey wey I for like share with una to help una understand why we feel so confident in our position. But strict confidentiality of legal process and our determination to respect am mean say I cannot do dat at moment. Even dis letter undergo several legal checks to make sure e comply.’
Al Mubarak point readers to statement club make on Friday in response to latest reports and statement issued in February 2023 when City first charged with over 100 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules. He insist say situation never change. He talk: ‘While some people quick to reach their own conclusions, and plenty noise dey swirl around us, nothing don change. We don face challenges together before and we prevail. Many still dey wey want undermine momentum of our club. We no go give dem dat opportunity.’
‘We get some exciting moments to look forward to after dis international break. We travel to Anfield in fortnight, and then host Paris Saint-Germain in Champions League back at Etihad Stadium – moments wey give us opportunity to celebrate strength of Manchester City family.’
For statement on Friday September 25, 2026, City talk: ‘Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC position remains consistent with club statement of February 2023.’
‘Club don diligently respect due process for eight years on basis say Premier League Board and Executive go behave as independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.’
City charged in February 2023. At time, dem respond with statement wey read: ‘Manchester City FC dey surprised by issuing of these alleged breaches of Premier League Rules, particularly given extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials wey EPL provide with.’
‘Club welcome review of dis matter by independent Commission, to impartially consider comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence wey exist in support of im position. As such we look forward to dis matter being put to rest once and for all.’
