Neville warns Premier League that City appeal verdict must come before May trophy lift

Gary Neville has issued a stark warning to the Premier League, insisting that Manchester City’s appeal against their guilty verdict must be resolved before the end of the season or risk a furious backlash from rival clubs and fans.

City were found guilty of 114 of 115 charges brought against them, and have since confirmed they have lodged a formal appeal with a fresh hearing to follow. Speaking on the Overlap Daily, the former Manchester United defender argued that allowing the process to drag into the final weeks of the campaign would be deeply damaging for the sport.

“I don’t think the Premier League can let this run until the end of the season,” Neville said. “If Manchester City are lifting the Premier League trophy in May without a verdict being given, there will be absolute uproar. The case must be dealt with by February or March.”

Neville acknowledged that due process must be respected and that City believe they will be cleared, but maintained that the timeline itself poses a serious problem for the integrity of the competition. “You cannot get to the end of the season and have Manchester City win the title without a verdict,” he added.

No punishment has yet been handed down, though options including relegation, points deductions, and the stripping of titles have all been discussed publicly. Neville made clear his own view on what the appropriate outcome should be.

“I think the owners should go, the titles should be stripped for the relevant period, and there should be a multi-year points punishment,” he said. “The owners and executives are going to struggle to remain in place if the same test that I have to follow as a director and owner is applied consistently.”

Neville stopped short of calling for City’s relegation to the lower divisions, however, citing the broader consequences for the club and the city of Manchester. “I’m not particularly fixated on relegating Manchester City to League One or League Two,” he said. “I want the club to return to the Premier League.”

He also acknowledged the economic dimension of any ownership removal, noting that the impact on east Manchester would be significant — though he was careful to separate that concern from his view on what justice requires.