Man City informed what punishments they need to concern if responsible as pundit lets free
Manchester City could face a “massive points deduction” as the Premier League kings brace for their trial over 115 alleged breaches of financial rules.
That’s according to ex-Sky Sports pundit Andy Gray, who reckons a major penalty is inevitable if the club is found guilty. City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023, with speculation raging over the potential sanctions for Pep Guardiola’s side ever since.
Points deductions or even relegation have been suggested as potential punishments if they are found guilty. Former Everton and Aston Villa striker Gray has forecasted the former if the club, who deny any wrongdoing, are indeed penalised.
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While discussing the issue live on beIN Sports with host Richard Keys, Gray expressed his belief that the club wouldn’t have titles stripped from them. After Keys noted that a verdict was likely at the start of next year, Gray passionately said: “What will happen? I imagine, and I don’t know, I imagine it’ll be along the lines of a points deduction, a massive one.”
Gray added: “They will be found guilty. There’s not 115 charges and they’re going to be innocent of all of them. I think we both know that. Without the independent tribunal, they wouldn’t be charging them if there wasn’t some evidence surrounding them there that suggested they might be guilty.”
He further blasted: “I don’t think they’ll take titles away from them, so what can they do? They can take points away from them now, they can fine them. Fining them? Who cares.
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(Image: Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
“They can fine them as much as they want, it doesn’t matter to Manchester City, they can pay that out of their back pocket. The only thing I can see is a massive points deduction and a massive fine.”
Guardiola himself addressed the looming hearing before his side’s 4-1 win over Ipswich Town. The City head coach said: “I am happy it starts soon and hopefully it finishes soon for the benefit of all of us.
“Especially for the club, but for all the other Premier League clubs, like for all the people that don’t wait for the sentence.
“I wish from deep in my heart to go to the trial, the independent panel – and I say it again, independent panel – and as soon as possible release what happened, and we will accept, like always we have done.”
“When asked if he felt the trial could have an impact on the team, the Spaniard, added: “No, we have been three or four years talking about that. We know it is going to happen, we accept it and focus on our matches.”
