Man City rivals expect Premier League exit next season — SkimNews
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- Manchester City lodged an appeal against an independent commission's verdict finding them liable for serious breaches of Premier League financial rules, with the breaches occurring across nine seasons of competition.
- Rival Premier League clubs do not expect City to be playing in the top flight next season if the appeal fails, believing a points deduction is insufficient punishment for rules broken across multiple seasons.
- City insist they are innocent and claim 'a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists' to support their position, with their legal team preparing for an appeal hearing potentially before Christmas.
- The same three-person panel from the 42-day hearing in 2024 will decide on sanctions after the Premier League's lawyers put forward their recommendation; both sides can appeal the sanction outcome.
- Rival clubs acknowledge self-interest drives their stance: City's relegation would mean one fewer club going down, removal of a title favorite, and an additional European place opening up.
- Premier League executives are pushing toward an 'NFL model' where the league speaks with one voice, a governance shift that has stalled because of City's marathon legal dispute now expected to run into next year.
Why it matters: Rival clubs are calculating punishment not just on principle but on tangible self-interest: City out of the league means one fewer relegation spot, an open title race, and an extra European place. The dispute also exposes the league's stalled push toward unified 'NFL model' governance — a shift that cannot happen until City's legal saga finally concludes.
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