Sky Sports News journalists gathered to dissect the recent verdict that found Manchester City guilty of every charge tied to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations, and they explored what might happen next. The club continues to reject the allegations, with chief executive Ferran Soriano branding the whole affair a "Premier League conspiracy theory" in a video addressed to players and staff. City have confirmed they will lodge an appeal against the decision and have until Friday to submit it. Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports News opened the discussion by pointing out that the Premier League’s own rulebook grants the disciplinary commission a range of sanctions, including points deductions, fines, transfer bans, other sporting penalties and even expulsion from the league.
He explained that the next step will be a hearing before the independent commission where the Premier League will propose its preferred punishment and Manchester City will present its defence. After that meeting, the commission will retreat to decide on the final penalty, a decision that is unlikely to be revealed in the immediate future.
Solhekol sensed that the league wants the matter wrapped up within the current season so that any points deduction could be applied straight away. He also reminded listeners that an appeal must be based on solid legal grounds; it cannot be filed merely out of frustration. Amar Mehta added that barristers and legal teams across the country are already consulting with other Premier League clubs about the possibility of further litigation against Manchester City. Sources told Sky Sports that several clubs have engaged some of the UK’s top lawyers to explore what legal avenues might be available after the commission’s verdict.
However, no formal lawsuits have been filed yet, as clubs appear to be waiting for the outcome of City’s appeal before taking any further action. Rob Dorsett highlighted the breadth of the commission’s sanctioning powers.
He noted that heavy fines, points deductions and, in the most extreme scenario, expulsion from the Premier League are all on the table. If City were to be relegated to the Championship, it would most likely happen through a massive points deduction that would see them finish at the bottom of the table. Expulsion, on the other hand, would strip City of Premier League status altogether, leaving the independent panel to decide at which level the club could re‑enter the English football pyramid.
Dorsett explained that the English Football League (EFL) rules require any expelled club wishing to re‑join the system to start at League Two unless the member clubs vote otherwise. He questioned whether Championship clubs would even want a powerhouse like City in their division, given the competitive and financial imbalance it would create. Moreover, reintegrating City at the second‑tier level would disrupt the league’s structure, creating a 25‑team championship and complicating promotion and relegation mechanics.
When Solhekol and Dorsett spoke together, they clarified that expelling City would need the approval of a super‑majority of the other Premier League clubs – three‑quarters, or fifteen out of twenty‑one members, must vote in favour of removal. If the required number of clubs does not support expulsion, City would remain in the league. They also reiterated that other penalties such as fines, points deductions, transfer embargoes or even forced replay of matches (the latter being highly unlikely) could be imposed without a league‑wide vote, though a combination of sanctions is also possible. Ben Ransom described the Premier League’s statement as "damning" and noted the severe language used by the commission.
He said the panel found that some witnesses had provided false testimony and that City’s accounts showed spending beyond both Premier League and UEFA limits. Ransom emphasized that the findings have sent shockwaves through the football world, marking what many see as a historic moment for the Premier League.
He pointed out that City have been preparing a defence since the 2018 Der Spiegel article and that Soriano believes the panel ignored what he calls irrefutable evidence. However, the commission concluded that parts of City’s case were dishonest, a judgment that Ransom described as "incredibly damaging" to the club’s reputation. In an exclusive segment, reporters Anthony Joseph and Adrian Kajumba noted that several of Manchester City’s sponsors are choosing to stay silent while the independent commission’s findings are under review. Lucozade, Kellogg’s and Revolut all declined to comment, indicating that the commercial fallout remains uncertain as the appeals process unfolds.
Overall, the Sky Sports team painted a picture of a complex, high‑stakes legal battle that could reshape English football. The possible outcomes range from hefty financial penalties to a points deduction that could alter the title race, to the unprecedented removal of one of the league’s most successful clubs. As the deadline for City’s appeal approaches, the football community watches closely, aware that the final decision will have far‑reaching consequences for the sport’s governance, competitive balance and commercial landscape.