Glasner warns Premier League that slow Man City punishment will drive fans away

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has called on the Premier League to act decisively over Manchester City’s punishment following the independent commission ruling that found the club guilty of 114 financial rule breaches, warning that prolonged uncertainty risks destroying fan trust in the competition.

Glasner, speaking after City’s guilty verdict was handed down, drew on his own experience of governing-body delays when Palace were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League last summer. He said the Premier League must avoid a repeat of that drawn-out process on a far larger stage.

“Let’s wait until the final verdict is spoken, but my wish is just that this is quick,” Glasner said. “We didn’t know with Palace if we were in the Europa League or Conference League and then it was ‘you will hear on Thursday’ and then that became Monday, because it was always delayed. Then we got the final verdict ten days before the Conference League started. That’s why I think this must be completed as soon as possible. There is still damage for the Premier League, not just in England. It’s a big topic all over the world, especially in Europe. The most important thing is the integrity of the league because as soon as the fans can’t trust it, they won’t watch it anymore.”

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, have pointed to their own case as evidence that the Premier League can move quickly when it chooses to. Forest received a four-point deduction in March 2024 for breaching financial rules in the 2022-23 season — a penalty that was issued and enforced within a single campaign.

City have announced they will appeal the verdict, protesting their innocence, which could extend the timeline considerably. The potential punishments under discussion range well beyond financial penalties. A substantial points deduction severe enough to trigger relegation has been raised, as has the stripping of titles won during the period covered by the breaches — 2009 to 2018 — which would represent one of the most significant sanctions in English football history.

For now, City remain unaffected on the pitch. They are the only side in the Premier League with a perfect record through five matches of the current season, sitting top of the table three points clear of Arsenal.