Several clubs are seeking that Manchester City be penalised retroactively and in the future, the BBC has learned. An independent panel found City guilty on all counts of breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations in the period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. City has appealed against the ruling.
The regulatory body is set to review the findings to check for signs of potential impropriety. According to reports, there is a consensus among a group of chief executives from the top flight that, should City's appeal fail, the sanctions should compensate for the period during which the rules were broken, while also limiting its future power.
In at least four top-flight club boards, there is a belief that a one-off points deduction, which would result in relegation to the Championship, would not be a sufficient penalty for the gravity of City's breaches. One source close to the club stated that City should be stripped of its titles. It added that among the clubs there is no great rush to advocate for the redistribution of trophies, but rather that the honours should be stripped and left unfilled. It warned that the credibility of the Premier League would be lost if City were allowed to keep the eight major trophies won in the period for which it was found guilty. BBC Sport was previously told that there is little desire among other clubs for City to be stripped of its titles.
Among the club executives, there is concern that a sanction applied to only one season would represent little more than a 'speed bump' for City, given the likelihood that it would return to the Premier League from the first attempt. Several people in the Premier League believe that a points deduction should be spread over several seasons. Equally, there is a sense that bans on transfers spanning several transfer windows would significantly hinder City's ability to quickly return to the top flight. A source close to the club described it as 'bizarre, almost absurd' that City could trade in the upcoming January transfer window if the process is ongoing and sanctions have not yet been applied.
Some clubs have stated that they feel 'in the dark' regarding the Premier League, including the timeline and deadlines for the appeal and the hearing on sanctions. Sources claim there is 'empathy' and 'understanding' for the difficult position the league is in, given the seriousness of the situation and the legal proceedings underway. One idea mentioned was the application of a 'tariff-based' system, where City's past league positions would be adjusted by a points deduction. Rival clubs could then receive compensation from City based on where they would have finished had they finished in relation to where they actually finished.
BBC Sport has learned that Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca will speak with the players together after they return from international duties on Thursday, ahead of their Premier League match against Liverpool on Sunday at 16:30 British time. The trip to Anfield is their first match since the verdict was announced. Merseyside Police stated that they have received queries regarding the match. When asked by BBC Sport if special measures would be introduced, the police responded that on the day of the match they would have 'an appropriate police operation'. Sources in Liverpool told BBC Sport that this is 'business as usual' and that no additional measures are being introduced. Discussions and meetings between the club, fans, and the relevant authorities are held before every home match. One source stated that while everyone 'has the right to express their feelings', they hope the fans will not cross the line.
