As the independent panel delays its final verdict on Manchester City's case, and fans alongside pundits watch a prolonged legal saga unfold, the other 19 clubs in the Premier League could theoretically take justice into their own hands. A sports commentator from BritBall.Net has proposed eight potential ways in which committed participants of the competition might deal with the 'citizens' on their own.
1. Compensation claims and lawsuits
Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool have officially reserved the right to demand compensation from Manchester City for lost revenue, with estimates suggesting that nine years of violations have cost opponents a staggering £844 million. Tottenham have suffered the most, having finished just outside the Champions League spots four times, losing around £120 million as a result. Clubs that have faced relegation might also stake a claim: Hull City is looking for about £100 million, while Wigan would happily take £40 million. A precedent has already been set after Everton paid £35 million to Burnley for similar sporting damage last summer. If owner Sheikh Mansour isn't spooked by the verdict, he could find himself weighing up the ramifications of 35 lawsuits from clubs that faced off against City between 2009 and 2018.
2. Voting for expulsion from the league
Within the closed chats of Premier League club executives, discussions are actively taking place about the possibility of voting to expel Manchester City from the competition. However, mustering the necessary 15 votes from 19 clubs seems unlikely, as many are wary of potential commercial losses, declining television revenues, and value their lucrative business ties with Abu Dhabi and partnerships in the transfer market.
3. Fielding youth teams
Given the current scenario, matches against City may seem pointless, and results could be negated if City were to be expelled during the season. Opponents could field academy sides, providing invaluable experience to young players while turning games against the champions into a farce. Should City respond in kind, we might see even younger teams on the pitch.
4. Refusing to play matches
A radical approach could involve clubs boycotting games. While risking a technical 0-3 defeat and serious sanctions, if all clubs united in this boycott, the Premier League would have to take the path of least resistance and protect the tournament from Manchester City.
5. Public denunciation
Football awaits a public uproar: calls for strong statements from stars like Virgil van Dijk and managers such as Mikel Arteta are mounting, demanding that the offenders be expelled from the league and stripped of their medals, rather than masking their anger with vague platitudes.
6. Banning club executives
Clubs could individually ban senior management at City, including Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Ferran Soriano, from appearing at away grounds and using their diplomatic immunity.
7. Total boycott of stadiums
Rival fans could organise a boycott, leaving away sections of stadiums empty and turning home grounds into arenas of continuous chants denouncing the 'frauds' from the first to the last minute.
8. Minor acts of mischief
In a situation where legal means are ineffective, clubs could make life uncomfortable for City at a practical level: turning cold water on in the changing rooms, maxing out air conditioning, parking the away bus a considerable distance from the entrance, and providing Enzo Maresca with a minuscule technical area.
