In an unprecedented scandal, the Premier League has made more than 100 allegations against Manchester City. Liverpool already knows the ‘worst’ outcome
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Liverpool’s Premier League rival Manchester City could face a whole host of different punishments for its alleged breaches of the competition’s financial rules, should an independent tribunal find against them.
A suspension, points deduction, transfer ban and/or a fine are among the possible outcomes if the panel rules against Manchester City. It could even be expelled from the league altogether.
That’s what ‘many’ Premier League sides are demanding if the charges, which span nine seasons, are proven (via Sky Sports News).
It’s not yet clear whether Liverpool is one of those teams, but according to SSN, the clubs who had been pushing hardest for action before Monday’s announcement were members of the so-called big six.
And it wouldn’t be remotely surprising if the Reds were calling for the harshest possible punishment on the back of its rivalry with Manchester City. They arguably have a right to feel as aggrieved as anyone if the Manchester club is guilty, having finished as runners-up behind Pep Guardiola’s side three times in the last decade.
Ultimately, though, expulsion may be considered unrealistic in some quarters because the Premier League will view Manchester City as an important part of its commercial product, meaning it may not entertain that eventuality. It certainly should not be discounted, but let’s consider the likelier scenarios instead.
Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester City and Liverpool (Image: Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
For Liverpool, the most painful outcome would be an ill-timed points deduction. If it happened in a season like this, when the Reds were struggling, then they simply wouldn’t feel any benefit.
Let’s say, hypothetically, Manchester City was found to have committed the various breaches and was subsequently deducted 15 points — that’s how many Juventus were docked recently, albeit for different offences. It would fall from second to eighth in the Premier League table, level on points with Chelsea (30) but one ahead of Liverpool.
In a way, then, Liverpool might be relieved that the process is expected to drag on for ‘years’, rather than being resolved swiftly. It will have an opportunity to re-establish itself as a direct competitor to Manchester City before any potential sanctions bite.
Many supporters will want Manchester City’s 2013/14, 2018/19 and 2021/22 titles to effectively be handed to Liverpool through points deductions if its guilt is proven, but retrospective punishment feels unlikely.
As per SSN, ‘there is a feeling’ that stripping Manchester City of these honors ‘would be meaningless and cause confusion’.
Indeed, The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney reports that ‘figures involved’ don’t expect any potential penalties to ‘look backwards’.
And James Hill, a legal director specializing in sports regulatory matters, told The Athletic that he anticipates that any points deduction would apply ‘to the season in which the decision is made’.
Barring retrospective action, Liverpool’s best hope in the event of the allegations being made out is a punishment that gives it a meaningful competitive advantage over Manchester City for a sustained period.
The problem with a points deduction in, say, four or five years is that only Manchester City’s direct rivals at that time will benefit. There is an element of fortune, with those affected most by the alleged offences not necessarily those who will be in line to take full advantage.
How a ‘fair but realistic’ punishment looks is certainly up for debate, but it’s probably a combination of sanctions, including a transfer ban. Yet even this has many clear flaws.
Should Manchester City be found to have committed some or all of the scores of alleged rule breaches, Liverpool will just have to hope it is in a place where it can take some kind of advantage. In many ways, the worst-case scenario would be a heavy punishment on which Jürgen Klopp’s side — arguably the most affected party — is not ready to capitalize.
