Manchester City are facing fresh pressure from rival Premier League clubs after the independent commission found them guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the league's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. According to BBC Sport, the argument inside rival boardrooms has already moved beyond a single punishment, with retrospective measures and future sanctions both being pushed.
At least four Premier League boardrooms believe a one-off points deduction leading to relegation would be an insufficient punishment. BBC Sport also reported that some clubs want what one source called "retrospective punishments", because a one-season hit is seen in some quarters as too close to a "one-hit" penalty for a case that spans multiple seasons.
The punishments rival clubs are pushing for
The most striking part of the fallout is how broad the discussion has become. This is not just about where City might finish in one campaign. Some club figures believe any points deduction should be split across multiple seasons, and there is concern among executives that a sanction applied to just one season would only be a bump in the road for City.
BBC Sport's reporting also points to pressure for restrictions that go beyond the table. One club source described the idea of City being allowed to trade in the January window while the case remains unresolved as "bizarre, almost obtuse". That does not amount to a confirmed transfer ban, but it shows how far some rivals want the punishment to reach.
The most severe proposal is around honours already won. One senior club source said City should be stripped of their titles, though there was "no great rush" to hand those trophies to anyone else. The preferred version from that source was to leave the honours vacant.
The split inside the league
There is no single line across the division. BBC Sport had previously been told there was little appetite among other clubs for City to be stripped of titles, which leaves that idea as one of the more divisive parts of the debate rather than an agreed destination.
Some clubs also feel they are still "in the dark" on chronology and timing, while other sources pointed to some "empathy" and "understanding" for the Premier League's position as it handles the process. So the anger is real, but so is the sense that the politics of punishment will be messy.
That is why the one-off relegation idea is being challenged so strongly. Rival clubs are not just arguing over severity, they are arguing over shape. The appetite, based on BBC Sport's reporting, is for a sanction that reflects both the period covered by the guilty verdict and the competitive consequences that followed.
Anfield is the immediate backdrop
All of that sits over Sunday's Liverpool vs Manchester City fixture at Anfield. City go into the match top of the Premier League on 15 points from 5 games, having won their last five league matches. Liverpool are 6th on 9 points from 5 games and unbeaten in their last five.
Liverpool sources, quoted by BBC Sport, described the matchday approach as "business as usual". Merseyside Police said it will have an appropriate policing operation in place on the day, while one source said supporters "has the right to express their feelings".
The football and the sanctions story are now running side by side. Sunday's trip to Anfield starts at 16:30 BST, with City top of the table and the argument over punishment still widening.
FAQ
What punishments are rival Premier League clubs pushing for over Manchester City?
BBC Sport reported that rival clubs want more than a one-off punishment. Some are pushing for retrospective punishments and future sanctions after Manchester City were found guilty of all charges tied to Premier League financial regulations between 2009-10 and 2017-18. Ideas discussed include sanctions spread across multiple seasons, possible limits on future activity and, from some sources, stripping titles and leaving honours vacant.
Would relegation be enough punishment for Manchester City according to rival clubs?
Not for everyone. At least four Premier League boardrooms believe a one-off points deduction leading to relegation would be insufficient. The concern is that a sanction hitting only one season would be little more than a temporary setback, so some clubs want retrospective punishment for past seasons as well as measures that affect Manchester City going forward.
Are Manchester City set to be stripped of titles after the verdict?
No decision like that has been made. The current reporting is about proposals and disagreement among rival clubs. One senior club source said Manchester City should be stripped of their titles, with the honours then left vacant, but BBC Sport had previously been told there was little appetite among other clubs for title stripping.
When is Liverpool vs Manchester City after the sanctions verdict?
Manchester City's next Premier League game is away to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday at 16:30 BST. Liverpool sources told BBC Sport it is 'business as usual', while Merseyside Police said an appropriate policing operation will be in place on the day.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
