Guilty as charged: What Man City's PL verdict *really* means

The charges against City? Over 100 breaches, alleged by the Premier League back in February 2023. Sky Sports reports City will appeal. Of course they will. Who wouldn't?

Next up, a fresh three-person commission gets to hear their appeal. Those are the rules. Separately, then comes the *real* fun: a dedicated hearing just for sanctions. Nobody knows when that'll happen, but the league, bless its heart, wants it wrapped up this season.

That independent commission isn't just a rubber stamp, mind you. They'll chew over the Premier League's recommended punishment, then pull their own trigger on what City gets. What could that be? Fines. Points deductions. Other sporting slaps. Maybe even *immediately*.

Don't expect them to run straight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. That's a no-go. But the High Court? A judicial review on procedural grounds? Now *that's* a possibility.

Want to know how bad it *could* get? Look at history. Everton, poor sods, got nicked for eight points total in 2023/24 (six on appeal, two for profit and sustainability breaches). Nottingham Forest? Four points gone. And Derby County, back in 2021/22, watched 21 points vanish for administration and financial irregularities. It happens.

And if they're actually chucked out of the Premier League? It's not just automatic relegation. Oh no. They'd have to crawl back, reapply to the English Football League pyramid. The FA and EFL would decide where they land. Current EFL rules say any new club starts at League Two. Basement stuff. Want to get back in higher up? Good luck. That needs a vote from all 72 EFL member clubs. Imagine *that* meeting.

One last kicker: the Premier League's even mulling voiding City's results if sanctions hit mid-season. Chaos.