City face 'multiple double-figure' points deductions as Premier League rivals grow furious over delays

Manchester City are facing the prospect of “multiple double-figure” points deductions if their appeal against 114 Premier League financial charges fails, according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire — with total sanctions potentially exceeding £1 billion when legal costs, fines, and compensation claims are factored in.

Last month, an independent commission found City guilty of 114 financial breaches spanning nine years. The club have since appealed the verdict, and a final resolution this season is considered unlikely, with a separate sanctions hearing also yet to conclude.

Maguire, speaking on GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast, outlined the scale of the potential punishment. “The redacted report sets out year by year how much the sham contracts contributed to the artificial commercial revenue,” he said. “Over the rolling three-year period, in some years we could be talking about a £350 million difference. That would shatter all records for PSR compliance.”

He drew a stark comparison with previous Premier League deductions. Everton and Nottingham Forest each received points penalties for a single breach in a single year involving overspends of no more than £20 million. City’s alleged breaches are of a different magnitude entirely. “It has to be multiple double figures of points, before you start the calculations,” Maguire said.

On the wider financial exposure, he added: “If you add up nine years of Champions League non-participation for individual clubs at an average of £50 million a time, around £20 million for the Europa League, plus potential claims from players who missed bonuses, the Premier League’s legal fees and a fine, we’re talking in excess of a billion pounds regardless of the points deduction.”

The drawn-out process has already generated significant frustration among Premier League clubs. Many believe the ongoing uncertainty is directly affecting their ability to plan for European qualification, while others are increasingly concerned about their share of mounting legal costs.

Because City are appealing and all parties are bound by non-disclosure agreements, the full picture — including any confirmed sanction — may not become public until the appeal itself is resolved.