Manchester City’s FFP Charges: What’s Next for the Premier League Giants?
As Manchester City await their hearing into the 115 FFP charges brought against them by the Premier League, one football finance expert has given his verdict on the potential punishment the club could face if found guilty.
Manchester City’s potential punishment
Dr Dan Plumley, a football finance expert, believes that the rumoured penalties of Manchester City facing expulsion or relegation from the Premier League are not sensationalised at all. Given the number and nature of allegations, if any of them are proven, then we could see significant penalties imposed on them.
‘I don’t think we’ll get a verdict until 2025 with a hearing scheduled for autumn, but from the Premier League’s point of view I think they’d like a resolution before the end of next season. If there is a punishment, then the authorities would likely want it to be delivered at the start of the 2025/26 season, so I get the feeling that the summer of 2025 will be an important time for this process.’
The Premier League’s decision will have significant implications
The potential punishments for City, if found guilty of any charges, could include being stripped of titles, points deductions, fines, or even relegation. While the Premier League has yet to provide official comment, the uncertainty surrounding the situation is palpable.
The charges against Manchester City
The charges relate to the time period between 2009 and 2018, and City strenuously deny the charges. The club are still awaiting an official date for their initial hearing into the charges, 15 months since the charges were first brought.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters told a Parliamentary Select Committee in January that a date had been set, but refused to reveal it. Earlier in May, Sky News reporter Rob Harris said that the league have indicated the hearing will be held ‘in the next few months’.
As the situation unfolds, one thing is certain - the implications of the Premier League’s decision will be felt far beyond the confines of Manchester City.
The financial implications of the Premier League’s decision
The summer of 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the history of Manchester City and the Premier League. Will the club be able to overcome the charges and emerge unscathed, or will the punishment be severe? Only time will tell.
