Two senior executives at different top-level Premier League clubs have told Sky Sports News they would be “staggered” and “amazed” if 15 clubs were prepared to vote to expel Manchester City from the Premier League, with such a move akin to a “self-inflicted commercial disaster”. Expulsion is one of a number of punishments open to the independent commission, which earlier this week found the club guilty of all but one of the 115 charges levelled against them for financial mis-management. Other available sanctions include a fine, points deduction and/or transfer embargo.
Man City remain adamant they are innocent and have vowed to fight the judgement. Sky Sports News has been told discussions remain ongoing within, and between, the bosses of other clubs in the Premier League about how they might react to developments, with a number of them considering their own legal positions in terms of a possible financial claim against Manchester City. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player But in a new and surprising development, we have been told that many rival clubs consider Man City such a key part of the commercial attraction of the Premier League, both in the UK and globally, that if rival clubs voted to expel them, it would be as if those clubs were "cutting off their noses to spite their faces." "If Man City were expelled, that would have massive commercial consequences for everyone in the league, and ultimately it would cost the other clubs an awful lot of money," one executive, who didn't want to be named, told Sky Sports News.
He went on to explain that, should such a decision come during this, or next, season it would mean only 19 clubs playing games going forward for the remaining matches, with broadcasters in the UK and abroad likely to expect a refund because of the reduction - and the attractiveness - of the number of games they had paid to televise. Sponsorship and other corporate sources of funding might well be reduced across the board if the most dominant club in English football in the last two decades were no longer playing in the Premier League. Similarly, expulsion would bring the futures of stars like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and more into question, which would further risk the commercial attractiveness of the Premier League and, according to one source, would make expulsion "a risk not worth taking." A further issue could be the uncertainty created by top clubs deciding to go against the recommended sanction laid out by the independent commission.
If that commission were to recommend City be expelled, and then the Premier League clubs voted against such a move, it is unprecedented and unknown what - if any - punishment could then be brought against City. Latest from Sky Sports News' Lyall Thomas and Anthony Joseph: Sky Sports News has sought out some of the current sentiment in the Championship about Man City potentially joining their league. If there was an expulsion, Man City's future would then reside in the hands of the FA and EFL.
A vote would have to take place involving all 72 clubs and a majority decision would be needed to determine where - and if - they enter into the EFL. However, another possibility is a points deduction and one that could be severe enough to see Man City relegated to the Championship. One top Championship club director believes Man City dropping into the Championship has "absolutely no" benefit for the league whatsoever and would prevent another club being promoted.
They said: "What benefit has the Championship got with Man City dropping into it? "The finances are so big they'll just blow the Championship away and go straight back up. So it kills a promotion spot for the other clubs.
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