Manchester City must prepare for a serious penalty after a ruling by an independent commission over violations of Premier League financial regulations. This perspective was shared by former club financial adviser Stefan Borson.
City has been found guilty on nearly all counts except one from the initial 115 allegations. The club, which denies any wrongdoing, is expected to continue challenging the decision.
While the exact sanctions remain unclear, possible outcomes include point deductions and other severe sporting and financial penalties. However, no official ruling has yet been announced.
Borson emphasised that the situation is more complex than a simple verdict of defeat for City:
They will be able to appeal the sanctions, but the range of possible outcomes will be serious in any case.
From what I understand, what unfolded during the meeting cannot simply be described as: 'City lost.' It was a bit more nuanced. The direction of the ongoing process remained somewhat ambiguous.
Borson believes that City might try to delay the publication of the commission's decision until the next phases of the process are complete. However, he clarified that this is merely speculation.
He explained:
I have a feeling, although there’s no complete clarity, that there’s a certain process happening behind the scenes. I suspect that City is trying to prevent the publication of the responsibility decision until the remainder of the process is concluded.
This is just a hunch, but I wouldn't be surprised, as others have acted similarly.
Borson is sceptical about the likelihood of this tactic succeeding:
I think it is probably unlikely to work right now as there is significant public interest in publishing this part of the decision. This will spark a new wave of enquiries, press coverage, and consequences that are hard to predict at this stage.
The next phase will involve a separate hearing on possible sanctions, which, according to Borson, will be held in private.
The expert shared:
There will be a hearing regarding the sanctions, and this will occur behind closed doors. Both sides will present their positions. City will outline the circumstances they believe should mitigate any penalties. But they shouldn't expect any serious leniency.
The Premier League, for its part, will put forward its position on the penalties and aggravating circumstances.
Borson highlighted the club’s initial lack of cooperation as a factor that may influence the final sanctions:
City did not cooperate initially. This is a significant aggravating factor. But even putting that aside, the violations themselves are so egregious that any punishment is likely to be severe.
The specific nature of the sanctions and the timeline for their announcement remain uncertain. City is also expected to leverage the procedural avenues available to contest decisions in the case.
