Manchester City could be facing one of the harshest punishments ever imposed in Premier League history. talkSPORT's Alan Brazil has reported that two separate sources have indicated a possible 60-point deduction.
An independent commission has already found the club guilty of financial misconduct, but City have lodged an appeal. As such, the final penalties remain uncertain.
Brazil shared his thoughts on air:
I’m hearing 60 points could be deducted. I reckon that will please quite a few folks, although City would still have a chance to stay up.
I’m not sure if that’ll happen this season. Given the timelines, it’s hard to envisage a resolution in time. The punishment might be reserved for next season. But the word is specifically about 60 points.
Ally McCoist believes that even such a severe punishment may be viewed as insufficient by many.
McCoist remarked:
I think many will see that as too lenient. Of course, we must await the outcome of the appeal. But should City lose it, fans will be anticipating a more substantial punishment.
The former Scottish international striker is of the opinion that a 60-point reduction would almost certainly place manager Enzo Maresca’s side in a relegation battle.
I’m not convinced it guarantees relegation. But it’s likely to pan out that way. If you need to gather 37–39 points to stay in the league, that task becomes exceedingly difficult.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire also suggested that a deduction of between 50 and 60 points is on the cards. He noted that prior penalties handed down to clubs like Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester were for shorter durations of financial misconduct compared to City's long-standing issues.
Maguire explained:
If a club spends beyond its means, it gains a significant advantage on the pitch. Thus, any punishment should impact competitive performance — through point deductions.
Given that City’s violations transpired over several years, it’s reasonable to expect a much heavier sanction than has been seen previously.
Maguire suggested that the club could face hefty fines too, potentially including legal costs in the region of £50–60 million alongside additional penalties.
He added:
In my estimation, we’re looking at something around 50–60 points. If more than 70 points are deducted, it’ll be tantamount to relegation.
Even with a 50-point penalty, Maguire finds a survival route for City theoretically conceivable.
If 50 points are docked, they’d sit on minus 35, with 33 matches left to play. It would be a remarkable story: City battling to avoid relegation. But that’s more of a Hollywood script than a feasible punishment argument.
According to regulations, the appeal review must take place within 12 weeks, with hearings capped at five days, and a decision required within 30 days following their conclusion.
