Sky Sports News reporters discuss how Manchester City being found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules unfolded and where the situation develops from here... The club continue to deny the breaches, with chief executive Ferran Soriano calling the process a "Premier League conspiracy theory" in a video message to players and staff. The club have confirmed they will appeal against the ruling and have until Friday to do so.
"If you look at the Premier League's own handbook, it says that the commission has the right to punish the club with a points deduction, a fine, a transfer ban, other sporting sanctions, and expulsion from the Premier League. It could be a combination of any of those. "There will be a further hearing with the independent commission to address the issue of sanctions, where the Premier League will put forward what they think the punishment should be and Manchester City will argue their case.
"Then, the commission will go away and decide what the punishment should be. "We are not going to find out what the punishment is anytime soon. "I sense, reading between the lines, that the Premier League wants this concluded this season.
Any points deductions can be applied this season. "The Premier League is saying that Manchester City have the right to appeal the commission's filings and they have until Friday October 2 to exercise that right. "When it comes to an appeal, you can't just say 'I'm angry, I'm going to appeal.' You have to have strong legal grounds." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "Barristers and lawyers across the country are working with Premier League clubs over the prospect of bringing further litigation against Manchester City, Sky Sports News understands.
"It is understood that clubs have instructed some of the top barristers in the UK to assess what legal options are potentially at their disposal, following the independent commission's verdict. "No litigation has been filed yet, with sources telling Sky Sports News that clubs will wait for the outcome of the appeals process." "The independent commission has a lot of sanctioning options. There are heavy fines, there are points deductions, and at the extreme, expulsion from the Premier League.
"If City are to end up playing in the Championship, the only way they can get there is if they're given a very large points deduction, which means they are relegated on the field, if you like. "If they're expelled from the Premier League, they're no longer a Premier League club. The independent panel cannot recommend what level they would rejoin the football pyramid at.
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